Pope Calls Turkey to be Bridge Bewtween Islam and West
(07 Jan 10 - RV) Pope Benedict urged just and lasting solutions to conflicts in the
Middle East as well as the civil juridical recognition of the Catholic Church in Turkey.
The
Pope also expressed his esteem for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and his hopes
for the future of Catholic–Muslim dialogue.
The Holy Father’s comments
came as he received the new ambassador from the Muslim majority nation to the Holy
See.
Full text of Papal Speech: Mr Ambassador,
I
am pleased to welcome you to the Vatican and to accept the Letters accrediting you
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to the Holy
See. I thank you for your gracious words and for the greetings that you bring from
your President, His Excellency Abdullah Gül. Please convey to him my own good wishes
and assure him of my continuing prayers for the well-being and prosperity of all
the citizens of your land.
As Your Excellency has observed, we are fast approaching
the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey
and the Holy See, a fruit of the pontificate of my predecessor Pope John XXIII who
had himself served as Apostolic Delegate in Istanbul and whose affection for the Turkish
people is well known. Much has been achieved during the last fifty years in the areas
of shared interest that you have indicated, and I am confident that these cordial
relations will grow deeper and stronger as a result of continuing collaboration on
the many important questions that currently arise in multilateral affairs.
I
recall with great pleasure my own visit to your country in 2006, when I was able to
pay my respects to the Turkish people and to members of your Government. I take this
opportunity to renew my appreciation for the warm welcome that I received. One of
the highlights of that visit was my meeting with Patriarch Bartholomaios I in the
Phanar. Within the secular Republic of Turkey, alongside the predominantly Muslim
population, the Christian communities are proud to play their part, conscious of their
ancient heritage and of the significant contribution they have made to the civilization,
not only of your land, but of the whole of Europe. During the recent celebrations
of the two-thousandth anniversary of the birth of Paul of Tarsus, that Christian
heritage became a focus of particular attention throughout the world, and I should
like to express the appreciation of Christians everywhere for the steps that were
taken to facilitate pilgrimages and liturgical celebrations at the sites associated
with the great Apostle.
My visit to Turkey also provided me with a welcome
opportunity to greet members of the Muslim community. Indeed it was my first visit
as Pope to a predominantly Islamic country. I was glad to be able to express my esteem
for Muslims and to reiterate the commitment of the Catholic Church to carry forward
inter-religious dialogue in a spirit of mutual respect and friendship, bearing joint
witness to the firm faith in God that characterizes Christians and Muslims, and striving
to know one another better so as to strengthen the bonds of affection between us (cf.
Address, Meeting with the President of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Ankara,
28 November 2006). It is my fervent prayer that this process will lead to greater
trust between individuals, communities, and peoples, especially in the troubled areas
of the Middle East.
The Catholics in Turkey appreciate the freedom of worship
that is guaranteed by the Constitution, and are pleased to be able to contribute to
the well-being of their fellow citizens, especially through involvement in charitable
activity and healthcare. They are rightly proud of the assistance provided for the
poor by the La Paix and Saint Georges hospitals in Istanbul. In order
that these worthy endeavours may flourish, I am sure your Government will continue
to do what it can to see that they receive whatever support may be needed. Furthermore,
the Catholic Church in Turkey is waiting for civil juridical recognition. This would
help her to enjoy full religious freedom and to make an even greater contribution
to society.
As a secular democratic state that straddles the boundary between
Europe and Asia, Turkey is well placed to act as a bridge between Islam and the West,
and to make a significant contribution to the effort to bring peace and stability
to the Middle East. The Holy See appreciates the numerous initiatives that Turkey
has already taken in this regard, and is eager to support further efforts to put an
end to long-standing conflicts in the region. As history has so often shown, territorial
disputes and ethnic rivalries can only be satisfactorily resolved when the legitimate
aspirations of each party are duly taken into account, past injustices acknowledged
and, when possible, repaired. Let me assure Your Excellency of the high priority
that the Holy See gives to the search for just and lasting solutions to all the conflicts
of the region and of its readiness to place its diplomatic resources at the service
of peace and reconciliation.
In offering my best wishes for the success of
your mission, I would like to assure you that the various departments of the Roman
Curia are always pleased to provide help and support in the fulfilment of your duties.
Upon Your Excellency, your family and all the people of the Republic of Turkey, I
cordially invoke the abundant blessings of the Almighty.