FRONT PAGE
Officially invited by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Benedict XVI is about to visit our country, following in the footsteps of his predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II. For those who are passionate about dialogue, Turkey is an inevitable port of call. The ecumenical process necessarily passes through the historical and primatial seat of world Orthodoxy. Bartholomew I remains the central point of this journey of the Supreme Pontiff. For a long time Benedict has ardently desired to make this visit and with the perseverance that characterises him he has never ceased to renew his own pressing invitations to this end. To understand this event in depth, we need to re-immerse ourselves in the great history of the Church. We need to go back to the fourth century, to the time when Constantine transferred the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium. We need to recall the first millennium of Christian history that enabled Christian East and West to coexist in unity, albeit not without difficulties. The Church of Christ has never been able to forget this original unity and intimately feels that the unity wished by Christ constantly leads her back to her own origins.Are we ready to enter upon such a process? Will the mass media, here and elsewhere, be able to raise themselves to this level? It may be doubted. Let us at least act in such a way that our local Christian communities be better prepared to experience such an event. During the days that still separate us from the arrival of the Holy Father, I will continue to ask Catholics to prepare themselves in prayer for this moment of grace. So that this apostolic visit may be well understood by everyone. So that it may touch people’s hearts and spirits. So that it may be a great moment for the Church in her pilgrimage on earth. So that the successor of Peter may successfully fulfil his own ministry of unity and peace towards all the disciples of Christ, all other believers and all men of good will. Two great moments are planned for the Catholics of Turkey during the Pope’s visit: the Mass at the Sanctuary of Meryem Ana at Ephesus on 29 November and that in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on 1st December. This latter celebration will be prepared by the four Catholic communities of Istanbul: Armenian, Chaldaean, Syriac and Latin. The Orthodox Churches, too, have long expressed the wish to gladden us with their presence. After the great day at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, this will also be a moment of prayer and deep communion with he who presides over charity, according to the happy expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch. We are fervently preparing for this event. Many have already set to work. Let us thank all the good will expressed, each according to his own charism. To welcome the Holy Father, we may recall the words of the prophet Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation …” (Is 52:7). And we repeat the words that echo his name: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”. We also repeat the words of hospitality of our country. We pronounce them with all our heart: “Hos geldiniz, welcome, Holy Father !”.
