A visit in the truth

The official visit of Benedict XVI to Turkey (28 November – 1 December) will take place as planned. The confirmation came at the end of the assembly of the Turkish Bishops’ Conference held in Istanbul on 18 September, also attended by Monsignor Piero Marini, head of the office for papal liturgical celebrations. The spokesman of the Turkish bishops, Monsignor Georges Marovitch, confirmed the papal visit in a briefing to SirEurope. Following the protests that had erupted in the Muslim world, Turkey included, in response to the Pope’s lecture at the University of Regensburg on 12 September, it seemed that the Pope’s visit was at risk, but the situation has now calmed down. VISIT CONFIRMED. “The visit will take place as planned”, declared the spokesman, adding that “it would be extended to 1st December, the day on which the Pope will meet the local Catholic community belonging to the various rites in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul. Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch, will also participate in the service and on 30 November, after an ecumenical celebration, will sign a joint declaration with the Pope. The meeting with Msgr. Marini was in fact intended to finalise arrangements for the liturgies. No mention was made of any meetings with Islamic representatives or leaders”. “During the assembly – said Marovitch – the apostolic nuncio, Monsignor Antonio Lucibello, read out the statement of the Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, explaining the real intentions of the Pope. But here the papers are still demanding an apology by the Holy Father. However, the climate is not particularly inflamed and no threatening or violent act against the Church has been registered, at least so far. The only emblematic action of protest happened in Ankara where exponents of an Islamic association laid a black wreath before the Apostolic Nunciature. But the anger is slowly dissolving and this raises hopes that the Holy Father’s visit will be serene and safe. What has happened – concluded Marovitch – will only reinforce Benedict XVI’s intention to progress on the road of dialogue between religions”. In the days immediately following the lecture in Regensburg, in order not to foment further polemics, the Catholic Church in Turkey had preferred not to comment on the Islamic protests. Turkish premier Tayyip Erdogan had also added his voice to them, asking for “the Pope’s apologies”, while deputy premier Abdullah Gul had confirmed the “invitation to the pope”. Msgr. Lucibello had referred to the statement of the director of the Vatican Press Room, Father Federico Lombardi, avoiding any reply to the statement put out by the head of the Department of Religious Affairs and Grand Muftì, Ali Bayakoglu, and dismissing as “speculations” claims that the papal journey had been cancelled. The president of the Turkish episcopate, Msgr. Ruggero Franceschini, for his part, invited Muslims to “re-read with attention the Pope’s lecture in which a total rejection of the religious motivations of violence was clearly expressed. It’s a view that reinforces the positions of a moderate Islam, like that of Turkey. The Pope’s visit will be a visit in the truth”. THE COMMENT OF THE PATRIARCHATE. “At a time when humanity must face up to dangers, it is essential not to offend others and avoid situations that could injure the beliefs of others”. In these brief words is expressed all the “sorrow” of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartolomeos I, due to the tensions created between the Muslim and the Christian faith after the statements made by Benedict XVI at the University of Regensburg. According to the programme of the visit, the Patriarch will celebrate the feast of St. Andrew together with the Pope on 30 November. A WORRIED WRITER. Meanwhile sales are booming in Turkey of a thriller written by YUCEL KAYA called “Attack on the Pope – Who will kill Benedict XVI in Istanbul?”. It tells the story of the assassination of Josef Ratzinger during his visit to Turkey. It’s a fictional story that has hit the bookstores just over two months before the Pope’s visit to Turkey. Precedents such as the assassination of Father Andrea Santoro and attacks on some religious have prompted Msgr. Marovitch to ask for information about the novel from the author himself, who has replied in a letter. “I wrote the book because I am a writer who has long tried to understand and interpret what’s happening in the world and because I am worried by the fact that some changes that have occurred in the Vatican in recent years may cause undesired events during the Pope’s visit to Turkey”, explains Kaya. But the writer hastens to reassure Msgr. Marovitch that his thriller will of course remain merely imaginary.