Ankara (Fides Service) - Former President Suleyman Demirel, the 9th president in the history of the Republic of Turkey, gave the main speech at a ceremony today 25th November to commemorate Pope John Paul II’s visit to that country 28-30 November 1979. Civil and religious personalities including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will attend the ceremony by the Nunciature in Ankara, and the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Mons. Edmond Farhat
“It is most significant for us that a former President, and a Muslim, should praise the figure of the Pope” Father George Marovich, spokesman of the Turkish Bishops’ Conference told Fides. “Everyone recognises the importance of the Pope’s work in these 26 years. His figure is universal; he is a great man of peace. The whole world recognises him and today a secular mainly Muslim nation such as Turkey recognises the Pope as a great ambassador of dialogue and peace among religions. The local Catholic community is overjoyed by this event”.
Father Marovich says the religious situation in Turkey is calm. The Christian Churches are working towards unity as well as towards interreligious dialogue with Muslims. Patriarch Bartholomew who will receive them from the Pope will soon bring the relics of two saints St John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory Nanzanzieno hitherto preserved in St Peter’s in Rome back to Turkey.
Moreover, Church/State relations are improving. A joint commission of Catholics and government members will be formed to solve problems. During a meeting with Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July the Catholic Bishops of Turkey made a request for official juridical status for the Catholic Church in Turkey.
Turkey has a population of 66 million, 98% Muslim. Christians, 0.6%, are Orthodox and Catholics of Latin, Armenian, Syrian, Chaldean, Byzantine, Maronite rites. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2004 righe: 37 parole 370)