” “Youth, families, and society at large

The ecclesial assembly of the Turkish Church was held in Istanbul from 5 to 8 December. It brought together delegates of the various Catholic communities (Latin, Armenian, Syriac and Chaldaean) in Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir, Antioch, Adana, Mersin, Urfa, Trabzon). It was an important meeting which concluded a process lasting four years. It was in fact during Advent 1998 that the Turkish Episcopal Conference (TEC) launched the initiative. We present a brief comment by Aylin Kiziler, journalist on the staff of the TEC’s press office. Having crossed the threshold of the third millennium, the Church in Turkey wants to re-propose itself as a genuine witness of the Gospel, as it was at the very beginning of its history, during the first centuries of Christianity. Following the Pope’s appeal to the Turkish bishops during their “ad limina” visit, the Church in Turkey wishes, through this ecclesial assembly, to “make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). The Pope’s encouragement “to bring to its completion this great project” (cf. the Pope’s address to the bishops of the TEC, 19 February 2001) makes the aim of our path even clearer. This path was traced by following the words of the Holy Father in his Apostolic Letter “Novo Millennio Ineunte”. Set up during the previous assembly in November 2001, the various commissions (for the liturgy, family, catechesis, ecumenism, charity, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, youth) have worked throughout 2002 to formulate specific projects for the future of the Catholic Church. Msgr. Pelâtre, Vicar Apostolic of Istanbul, explained that this assembly was also aimed at surveying more closely the situation of the Church. The 100 delegates also received a personal message from John Paul II, who exhorted them: “strong in your religious experience, stimulated by the example of your fathers in this land stained by the blood of the martyrs and sustained by the teachings of the apostles and saints, try to turn your living and discreet presence into an open and warm witness of ‘God’s love [that] has been poured into your hearts’ (Rom 5:5), by conducting a dialogue of love with your brothers (cf. Ut unum sint, no.47) that will be for everyone a witness and contribution to the harmony and solidarity of Turkish society!”. The words of the Holy Father encourage us to pursue this path of faith and witness.