"During the several meetings with the political authorities, I wanted to confirm the rooting of the Catholic Church in the Turkish society, thanks to the prestigious heritage of the first Christian communities in Asia minor, and to the enormous contribution to the life of the Universal Church, made by the first Ecumenical councils". Those were the words spoken by Benedict XVI in the Vatican, this morning, during the ceremony for delivering the diplomatic credentials by the new Ambassador of Turkey, Muammer Dogan Akdur. The Pope pointed out the devotion of the current Christian communities, "though being a minority with respect to the common good of the whole society", adding that "the Catholic Church wishes to take advantage of an acknowledged juridical status, and to be able to start an official dialogue between the Episcopal Church and State authorities, with the aim of settling all the rising questions". As for the relationships with Islam, Benedict XVI stated that "the believers of the different religions must make an effort and work together in favour of peace, learning to know each other better and respect each other, to build up a society becoming more and more brotherly, day after day" (to be continued).
