Peter’s embrace

“Embracing the pope”: speaking of the World Youth Day in Madrid with the vice-parish priest of Mersin, Polish Fr Macek Sokolowski, means giving a voice to over 50 young Turks who will be travelling to Spain in less than a month. Along with their pilgrim’s kit they carry with them the strong yearning to see, listen to and perhaps even “embrace Benedict XVI”.Remembering Msgr. Padovese. “Seven people, students and religious workers, will leave from Mersin – Fr Sokolowski, who will accompany the youth group to the WYD, told SIR Europe. Their commitments have prevented them from fully preparing for the event in Madrid, however, they overcame their difficulties, that include travel, and met during the year, in Christmas 2010, in Easter in particular, for common prayers and sharing sessions. Two weeks ago we travelled to Iskenderun, where Msgr. Luigi Padovese used to live, the lamented apostolic vicar killed June last year, to meet other young people who will join us for the WYD. In this path leading up to the WYD we will be guided by a group of American lay Catholics, whom we have known for many years. But we’re not the only ones preparing for the Day. Other 50 young people are undergoing preparation in Istanbul. We’re planning to meet them in a few days”.From dream to reality. The yearning to be close to the Pope in Madrid is such that “they never stopped working, to ensure that this dream comes true”. There have also been stumbling blocs: “the group’s spirit is high. They can’t wait to leave and meet their peers, despite numerous obstacles, especially as relates to organization. A lot of work still needs to be done, also the Government is sceptical in the granting of permits to exit the Country, motivated by the fear that the WYD may be used as an excuse to settle down abroad for good. Indeed, we have selected those who are most committed in our churches, those who are engaged in pastoral work for the children, for the chorus and for Caritas”. And there are financial difficulties as well: “young people contributed to 50% of travel costs, 750 euro, considering an average monthly income of 300-400 euro. The rest is paid by the bishops, by the manual work of the youth and by donors”.The embrace of the church. Father Macek doesn’t underestimate the importance of the encounter with young people from different parts of the world, but most of all, the encounter “with the successor of Peter, who will confirm us in our faith, given the living environment marked by a Muslim majority. In Turkey, differently from other European countries, the media devote little coverage to the Pontiff’s engagement. It should also be considered that the violent, unexpected death of Msgr. Padovese is a wound in the hearts of the youth, especially those arriving from Mersin. They hope it will soon be healed by the arrival of a new pastor”. This dream is further nourished by the theme of the Day, “Rooted in Christ, firm in the faith”, which “our young people feel strongly involved by” explained the vice-parish priest. “Embracing Peter’s successor means experiencing the embrace of the universal Church. For them it’s a sign of belonging, reaffirming their identity within an Islamic society. In fact, it is not incidental that our youth includes faithful from different Christian rites and even Orthodox Christians, who regularly attend our churches. We don’t talk of ecumenism, we live it”.The force of bearing witness. “In Turkey – added father Macek – we do our best to create a Christian environment for our young faithful, the young and the less young. Now the WYD will provide the opportunity for them to see the Church, which is much larger than the small Turkish flock. Let us hope that from this experience the youth will draw the necessary force to witness the strength of the Gospel and the hope that stems from it. The fruits of the WYD – he concluded – borne in the young people who were in Rome, Toronto, Paris and Sydney, are known. We have personally witnessed them also here in Turkey. There have been many conversions. And many young people have become wonderful Christians. Could there be a greater witness?”.