“Who ever speaks of us?”

There is neither bitterness nor resignation in the words of Monsignor Ruggero Franceschini, president of Turkey’s bishops’ conference (CET), Latin archbishop of Smirne, for the past 4 years apostolic administrator of the apostolic Vicarage of Anatolia (awaiting a new shepherd), while he speaks of the “small flock” which he guides with his bishops confreres from the different rites, with the few priests, men and women religious. According to recent figures, there are 47 thousand Catholics in Turkey (0.06%) on a total of over 75 million inhabitants divided into seven districts and 55 parishes, over half of which without a parish priest, and 11 pastorals seats. These congregations are guided by five bishops, 13 secular priests and 57 from the religious clergy, about 70 consecrated religious, a dozen lay missionaries and slightly more than 60 catechists. These are small numbers set against the backdrop of a large country that forces priests to travel for many hours to reach small Christian communities, celebrate Mass or for prayer and formation, to administer the sacraments and try to serve as their “point of reference”. It is a testimony that is given with joy without great speeches and it is “appreciated also by the Muslim population”. The first land of mission. In the present Turkish region the Gospel arrived from Jerusalem with St. Paul who founded several communities. Places like Antioquia, Tarsus, Ephesus (Meryem Ana Evi or Home of the Holy Virgin) Nicea, Cappadocia, belong to the history of Christianity. Today it remains the land of mission it was at the time, but only “for few”, underlined the Archbishop, who is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, and has been living in Turkey for the past 30 years. “We could do much more if there were more people, not only more priests. Only few people come here. A priest from Ariano Irpino, now rector of our Cathedral in Smyrna – that underwent conservation works thanks to the financial support of the Italian and German Churches, and which also renewed its pastoral service – was the last person to arrive here three years ago. We are still waiting for a shepherd to replace monsignor Padovese, killed in Iskenderun on June 3 2010. We find it difficult also to have priests and missionaries sent by traditionally generous countries like Poland”. “Whoever decides to come here – Mons. Franceschini made clear – risks remaining alone in the parish church, without appropriate economic support, thereby becoming an easy prey. It would be very important if there were small communities of priests, religious and lay friends supported and encouraged by the bishop so as to share the good moments that characterize our mission and overcome the negative moments together. Indeed, not all of us are ‘specialised’ in loneliness. Conversions to Islam. In the Turkish churches lights and shadows overlap; they almost conceal the evident borders that separate them. The shadows of the aggressions and cruel deaths of Father Andrea Santoro, killed in 2006 in Trabzon, and Msgr. Luigi Padovese, are juxtaposed by the lights of their martyrdoms and those of other Christians, along with the heritage of dialogue and respect that they left in their wake. Nonetheless, converts to Islam increase even among Christians: as many as 616 (of whom 150 Germans and 52 Russians) since the beginning of 2014, according to the general secretariat for religious affairs in Turkey. But Msgr. Franceschini explained that “most conversions are motivated by convenience, the real ones can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Conversion to Islam brings better living conditions and benefits”. “Phenomena such as these – he added – can encourage Christians’ spiritual growth. And they can also help those Christians who don’t live here not to forget us”. Finally, he pointed out: “after all, who ever speaks about this Church?” In need of aids. “Small, poor and generous”: for the past three years the Turkish Church has been committed in providing support to Syrian refugees fleeing from armed conflicts in their native Country. “We don’t have a lot to offer but whatever we receive as charity by Turkish authorities we give it to the refugees. We need so much support! We expect something more from our brothers with whom we share the same faith!” Among the few who welcomed the appeal of the president of the Turkish bishops figures the new Secretary-General of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Monsignor Nunzio Galantino. “He remembered us and he immediately understood our spiritual and material tragedy -revealed the archbishop of Smyrna -. He took prompt action to help our Christian community whose church risks collapsing”. In fact the priorities of the Turkish Church include preventing the ruin of church property. They must be restored before they collapse. If not, these churches will be torn to the ground forever”.