A treasure to be discovered

The year 2008 is an important year for young Catholic Turks committed in the preparation of the Pauline Year, which will commence on June 21-22 in Tarsus, and of the World Youth Day held in Sydney July 15-20 2008. “There won’t be a numerous delegation in Australia, it will however be conspicuous” – Msgr Luigi Padovese , President of Turkey’s Bishops Conference, told Sir. “Indeed, there are major difficulties relating to duration and expenses. Turkey’s participation was made possible only thanks to a sponsor’s support. The Catholic Church of Turkey is very poor.” Turkey’s Catholic Church expects that a renewed pastoral commitment and faith vitality will ensue from the Wyd and from the Pauline Year. (See SIR Europa 17/2008)Excellency, will young Turks be attending Sydney’s Wyd? “A delegation of twelve will be present in Turkey, these are figures to date. We hope however that more representatives of the four Catholic rites – the Latin, Armenian, Caldean and Syriac-Catholic – present in Turkey will join the delegation. They will be led by the Syriac- Catholic corepiscope Msgr. Saag”.Twelve youth. Is it a symbolic number? “There is nothing symbolic in the number, it is however tied to the number of dioceses. There are three Latin ones, with six young participants, two Armenian, two Caldeans and two Syriac-Catholic ones. However, we hope that more youth will participate. The trip is very expensive and both the Catholic Church, which is very poor, and the youth can’t afford the expense”. How are their expenses covered?“Their participation was made possible only thanks to the contribution of the Association “Aid to the Suffering Church”. It would otherwise have been impossible”. In other European Countries, Churches are organizing parallel events enabling the youth to follow the Wyd from their homes. Will you be doing the same in Turkey?“No parallel event to Australia’s Wyd is envisaged for those who remain here. Our youth are very few and the fact of belonging to different rites raises a series of problems. Turkey’s Church can’t afford to organize major events. Another difficulty is represented by the geographic extension of the Country. To bring together all the youth is an excessive effort under all angles”. If you were to make an identikit of a young Christian Turk, how would it be? “Young Christian Turks live in a typically Muslim cultural reality although they come from families which have kept faith to their identity. They do however let themselves be homogenized. They are Christians, they are aware of it, but they have not delved into their faith. They risk having received a great gift of faith, which they have not yet brought to the fore. They have the basis, they know there is a treasure to be uncovered although they haven’t seen it yet. Discovering the treasure of faith is their calling, so that once they return to their local Churches they will share their experience in Sydney with others, transmitting their enthusiasm.” Is this what you expect from the “twelve” – given the symbolical reference – who will be going to Sydney?“Certainly. The hope we repose in those who will be going to Sydney whether they are twelve or more, is to return with contagious enthusiasm. This would be a great gift to the Turkish environment marked by Catholic minority. Experiences such as the Wyd allow our youth to rediscover the joy and the awareness of being Christians. In short: being confirmed in their faith”.