Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ankara (Agenzia Fides) - On Tuesday 28 November the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI began a visit to Turkey, his 5th international Journey. At Ankara Airport he was welcomed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other authorities. Also there to greet him was Archbishop Ruggero Franceschini O.F.M. Cap., of Izmir, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey.., and Mgr. Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature. Immediately after his arrival, while still at the airport the Pope had a private meeting with the Prime Minister about to depart for a NATO meeting.
The Pope was then driven to Atatürk Mausoleum, the burial place of Mustafa Kemal "Atatürk", founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. The Pope signed the Visitors Book with these words: “In this land, meeting point and crossroads of religions and cultures, Asia and Europe, I endorse willingly the words of the Founder of the Turkish Republic to express the wish: "Peace in our Homeland, peace in the world". After the welcome ceremony and a visit to the Present of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the presidential palace in Ankara, the Pope had a meeting with vice-premier Mehmet Ali Şahin.
Pope Benedict XVI, accompanied by his entourage of cardinals and bishops then went to the Diyanet, Religious Affairs Directorate, to meet Prof. Ali Bardakoğlu, President of the Religious Affairs Directorate, in the presence of various leading Muslim figures grand mufti of Ankara and Grand Mufti of Istanbul. After a private meeting with Prof. Ali Bardakoğlu in the Diyanet Conference Room the Pope gave an address in which he greeted “I greet all the Muslims in Turkey with particular esteem and affectionate regard.”.
“Your country is very dear to Christians- the Pope said -,: many of the earliest Church communities were founded here and grew to maturity, inspired by the preaching of the Apostles, particularly Saint Paul and Saint John. The tradition has come down to us that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, lived at Ephesus, in the home of the Apostle Saint John. This noble land has also seen a remarkable flowering of Islamic civilization in the most diverse fields, including its literature and art, as well as its institutions. There are so many Christian and Muslim monuments that bear witness to Turkey’s glorious past.”
The Pope said he had come to visit to Turkey with the same sentiments as those expressed by his predecessor Blessed John XXIII, when he came as Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, to fulfil the office of Papal Representative in Istanbul, and he quoted what Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his visit to Turkey in November 1979: “I wonder if it is not urgent, precisely today when Christians and Muslims have entered a new period of history, to recognize and develop the spiritual bonds that unite us, in order to preserve and promote together, for the benefit of all men, ‘peace, liberty, social justice and moral values’”.
Pope Benedict XVI said: “Christians and Muslims, following their respective religions, are a reminder of the truth about the sacred character and dignity of the human person. This is the basis of our reciprocal respect and esteem, this is the basis for cooperation at the service of peace among nations and peoples, the dearest wish of all believers and all people of good will.”
“Christians and Muslims belong to the family of those who believe in the one God and who, according to their respective traditions, trace their ancestry to Abraham the Pope continued recalling the teaching of Vatican II (cf. Second Vatican Council, Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions Nostra Aetate 1, 3). This human and spiritual unity in our origins and our destiny impels us to seek a common path as we play our part in the quest for fundamental values so characteristic of the people of our time. As men and women of religion, we are challenged by the widespread longing for justice, development, solidarity, freedom, security, peace, defence of life, protection of the environment and of the resources of the earth… Above all, we can offer a credible response to the question which emerges clearly from today’s society, even if it is often brushed aside, the question about the meaning and purpose of life, for each individual and for humanity as a whole”.
Pope Benedict XVI said : “We are called to work together, so as to help society to open itself to the transcendent,” and “The best way forward is via authentic dialogue between Christians and Muslims, based on truth and inspired by a sincere wish to know one another better, respecting differences and recognizing what we have in common”.
The Holy Father then quoted Pope Gregory VII with regard to ‘charity that Christians and Muslims owe to one another’ and added: “Freedom of religion, institutionally guaranteed and effectively respected in practice, both for individuals and communities, constitutes for all believers the necessary condition for their loyal contribution to the building up of society, in an attitude of authentic service, especially towards the most vulnerable and the very poor.” The Pope concluded “May we come to know one another better, strengthening the bonds of affection between us in our common wish to live together in harmony, peace and mutual trust”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2006 - righe 67, parole 938)
