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Aleteia
Nov 29 2014
Pope Francis Invites Turkey to Join An `Encounter of Civilizations'
A common theme for the Pontiff, in a very different setting
by Max Lindenman
In a study of contrasts, Pope Francis, all simplicity in his white
soutane, entered the $600 million palace of Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdo Ä? an and called for the `solidarity of all believers' in
opposing religious fanaticism.
In his address, Pope Francis praised Turkey as `a natural bridge
between two continents and diverse cultures,' and spoke admiring words
for Turkey's role in providing asylum to refugees from the Syrian
Civil War.
`Turkey, by virtue of its history, geographical position and regional
influence, has a great responsibility,' the Pope said. `The choices
which Turkey makes and its example are especially significant and can
be of considerable help in promoting an encounter of civilizations and
in identifying viable paths of peace and authentic progress.'
Since 2011, the fighting between government forces and various
militant groups has displaced an estimated 13.6 million Syrians from
their homes. Over three million have fled the country, more than half
that number settling in Turkey. The emergence of the Islamic State has
accelerated this displacement. Over a single weekend this past
September, more than 130,000 Syrians entered Turkey just ahead of IS
forces, which were advancing on the city of Kobani.
Though the Turkish government classifies Syrian asylum-seekers as
guests rather than refugees, it has so far spent $4 billion providing
for their basic needs. Amnesty International has criticized the
international community for allowing Turkey to bear such a heavy
burden. Some Turks are beginning to resent their presence in the
country, citing competition from unregistered Syrian businesses.
Pope Francis' address marked the beginning of a three-day tour, which
includes visits to the Hagia Sophia museum and the Blue Mosque, as
well as prayer with Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The
Pope lay a wreath at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the
Turkish Republic, and met with Mehmet Görmez, a Muslim cleric who
serves as the president of Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs.
"We have pulled the world to the brink of disasters with our own
hands. We can't put the whole responsibility on evil forces," Görmez
said during the meeting. He denounced terrorism as "a rebellion
against God,' adding that `as Muslims we reject this extremism and
bloodshed.'
The `encounter of civilizations' promoted by the Pope in this visit
recalls the `culture of encounter' he has spoken throughout his papacy
of wanting to build. Former National Catholic Reporter, Vatican
observer John Allen has called the phrase `elastic enough to embrace a
wide range of possible meanings,' and pointed out that Pope Francis
has employed it `in too many venues to count.' But it seems, in
general, to connote a search for common ground and dedication to
concerted action among apparent adversaries. In a homily delivered
shortly after his election, he used it to stress that atheists, too,
were capable of doing good.
The Turkish public response to the papal vist has been polite, but
muted. Though Francis entered the presidential compound to a cannon
salute, as befitted his position as head of Vatican City State, the
Turkish tabloid Posta grumbled about `martial law,' referring to the
2,700 police officers in Ankara and over 7,000 in Istanbul mobilized
to guarantee the Pontiff's safety. The BBC notes that `there were none
of the thousands of people lining the streets,' as there are in
countries with a majority Christian population.
Turkey's Christians, who number about 120,000, make up about 0.2% of
the population, a percentage that has fallen from 20% over the past
century. In part, the drop results from an organized population
transfer that sent 1 million Christians to live in Greece, while
300,000 Muslims resettled in Turkey. It also reflects the deportation
and murder of as many as 1.5 million Armenians ' an act the Turkish
government.refuses to call genocide.
Formally, Christians are under no legal handicap, but many have
complained of popular prejudice, which has sometimes turned deadly.
In 2006, a Catholic priest, Father Andrea Santoro was murdered by
OÄ?uzhan Akdin, a high-school student armed with a 9 mm pistol that had
originally been issued to the Iraqi army. In 2010, Msgr. Luigi
Padovese, Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia, was stabbed to death by Murat
Altun, his driver.
Turkish President Erdo Ä?an called the papal visit, `a very significant
and very crucial step which will enhance the hopes of peace in our
region.' But some observers blame Erdo Ä?an's Islamic Justice and
Development Party for creating a climate fundamentally hostile to
Christians.
`Society is becoming Islamized,' Father Iulian Pista, a priest serving
in Istanbul, told the BBC's Mark Lowen. `Recently, I've seen
youngsters defecate and urinate in my church. They shout 'Allahu
akbar' [God is great]. I also believe God is great but the way they
say it is threatening."
The threatening feeling for non-Muslim minorities here is coming
again,' agreed Fotis Benlisoy, an Orthodox believer of Greek ethnicity
living in Turkey, who added that he and his co-religionists are
starting to think in terms of `an escape strategy.'
As a token of goodwill, the Pope presented Erdogan with a mosaic
reproduction of a painting by Italian artist Antonello Riommi
depicting the Castel Sant' Angelo. In return, Erdo Ä?an gave the Pope
a collection of `Ottoman-themed gifts,' including an edict from 15
th-century Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror guaranteeing freedom of worship
to Bosnian Christians.
Max Lindeman writes from Turkey.
http://www.aleteia.org/en/world/article/pope-francis-invites-turkey-to-join-an-encounter-of-civilizations-5882817401585664
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Nov 29 2014
Pope Francis Invites Turkey to Join An `Encounter of Civilizations'
A common theme for the Pontiff, in a very different setting
by Max Lindenman
In a study of contrasts, Pope Francis, all simplicity in his white
soutane, entered the $600 million palace of Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdo Ä? an and called for the `solidarity of all believers' in
opposing religious fanaticism.
In his address, Pope Francis praised Turkey as `a natural bridge
between two continents and diverse cultures,' and spoke admiring words
for Turkey's role in providing asylum to refugees from the Syrian
Civil War.
`Turkey, by virtue of its history, geographical position and regional
influence, has a great responsibility,' the Pope said. `The choices
which Turkey makes and its example are especially significant and can
be of considerable help in promoting an encounter of civilizations and
in identifying viable paths of peace and authentic progress.'
Since 2011, the fighting between government forces and various
militant groups has displaced an estimated 13.6 million Syrians from
their homes. Over three million have fled the country, more than half
that number settling in Turkey. The emergence of the Islamic State has
accelerated this displacement. Over a single weekend this past
September, more than 130,000 Syrians entered Turkey just ahead of IS
forces, which were advancing on the city of Kobani.
Though the Turkish government classifies Syrian asylum-seekers as
guests rather than refugees, it has so far spent $4 billion providing
for their basic needs. Amnesty International has criticized the
international community for allowing Turkey to bear such a heavy
burden. Some Turks are beginning to resent their presence in the
country, citing competition from unregistered Syrian businesses.
Pope Francis' address marked the beginning of a three-day tour, which
includes visits to the Hagia Sophia museum and the Blue Mosque, as
well as prayer with Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The
Pope lay a wreath at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the
Turkish Republic, and met with Mehmet Görmez, a Muslim cleric who
serves as the president of Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs.
"We have pulled the world to the brink of disasters with our own
hands. We can't put the whole responsibility on evil forces," Görmez
said during the meeting. He denounced terrorism as "a rebellion
against God,' adding that `as Muslims we reject this extremism and
bloodshed.'
The `encounter of civilizations' promoted by the Pope in this visit
recalls the `culture of encounter' he has spoken throughout his papacy
of wanting to build. Former National Catholic Reporter, Vatican
observer John Allen has called the phrase `elastic enough to embrace a
wide range of possible meanings,' and pointed out that Pope Francis
has employed it `in too many venues to count.' But it seems, in
general, to connote a search for common ground and dedication to
concerted action among apparent adversaries. In a homily delivered
shortly after his election, he used it to stress that atheists, too,
were capable of doing good.
The Turkish public response to the papal vist has been polite, but
muted. Though Francis entered the presidential compound to a cannon
salute, as befitted his position as head of Vatican City State, the
Turkish tabloid Posta grumbled about `martial law,' referring to the
2,700 police officers in Ankara and over 7,000 in Istanbul mobilized
to guarantee the Pontiff's safety. The BBC notes that `there were none
of the thousands of people lining the streets,' as there are in
countries with a majority Christian population.
Turkey's Christians, who number about 120,000, make up about 0.2% of
the population, a percentage that has fallen from 20% over the past
century. In part, the drop results from an organized population
transfer that sent 1 million Christians to live in Greece, while
300,000 Muslims resettled in Turkey. It also reflects the deportation
and murder of as many as 1.5 million Armenians ' an act the Turkish
government.refuses to call genocide.
Formally, Christians are under no legal handicap, but many have
complained of popular prejudice, which has sometimes turned deadly.
In 2006, a Catholic priest, Father Andrea Santoro was murdered by
OÄ?uzhan Akdin, a high-school student armed with a 9 mm pistol that had
originally been issued to the Iraqi army. In 2010, Msgr. Luigi
Padovese, Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia, was stabbed to death by Murat
Altun, his driver.
Turkish President Erdo Ä?an called the papal visit, `a very significant
and very crucial step which will enhance the hopes of peace in our
region.' But some observers blame Erdo Ä?an's Islamic Justice and
Development Party for creating a climate fundamentally hostile to
Christians.
`Society is becoming Islamized,' Father Iulian Pista, a priest serving
in Istanbul, told the BBC's Mark Lowen. `Recently, I've seen
youngsters defecate and urinate in my church. They shout 'Allahu
akbar' [God is great]. I also believe God is great but the way they
say it is threatening."
The threatening feeling for non-Muslim minorities here is coming
again,' agreed Fotis Benlisoy, an Orthodox believer of Greek ethnicity
living in Turkey, who added that he and his co-religionists are
starting to think in terms of `an escape strategy.'
As a token of goodwill, the Pope presented Erdogan with a mosaic
reproduction of a painting by Italian artist Antonello Riommi
depicting the Castel Sant' Angelo. In return, Erdo Ä?an gave the Pope
a collection of `Ottoman-themed gifts,' including an edict from 15
th-century Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror guaranteeing freedom of worship
to Bosnian Christians.
Max Lindeman writes from Turkey.
http://www.aleteia.org/en/world/article/pope-francis-invites-turkey-to-join-an-encounter-of-civilizations-5882817401585664
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress