Vatican City, 28 November 2014 (VIS) –
This morning Pope Francis began the sixth apostolic trip of his
pontificate. His visit to Turkey is essentially of an ecumenical
nature, like those of his predecessors; the country has occupied a
privileged position in the geography of papal trips ever since the
visit of the Apostolic Delegate Angelo Roncalli, referred to by the
Turkish authorities as “the first Turkish pope in history”
following his election as Pope John XXIII. Turkey was also the
destination of Paul VI's fifth apostolic trip in 1967, a corollary
of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and his historic embrace with the
Ecumenical Patriarch Atenagoras in Jerusalem. John Paul II continued
the tradition with his fourth trip (1979) as did Benedict XVI with
his fifth apostolic trip, in 2006.
The Holy Father departed from Rome's
Fiumicino airport at 9 a.m., and reached the Turkish capital Ankara
at 1 pm (local time) where he was received by the civil and religious
authorities. He transferred by car to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic, the
“Father of the Turks” who guided Turkey's radical rupture with
its Ottoman past, laying down the foundations of the modern secular
state in its 1937 Constitution. Upon arrival the Pope was received by
the Commander of the Guard, ascended the Steps of Honour, left a
floral tribute and prayed for a moment. He was then accompanied to
the nearby “Tower of National Pact”, where he signed the guest
book.
He then paid a visit to the
Presidential Palace or “Ak Saray” (White Palace), inaugurated
just two months ago by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
substituting the historic Cankaya Palace. The Holy Father was
received by the president, and the two spoke in private for a few
minutes, after which Pope Francis gave his first public address on
Turkish soil, addressed to the authorities gathered in the Ak Saray.
“I am pleased to visit your country
so rich in natural beauty and history, and filled with vestiges of
ancient civilisations. It is a natural bridge between two continents
and diverse cultures”, the Pope began. “This land is precious to
every Christian for being the birthplace of Saint Paul, who founded
various Christian communities here, and for hosting the first seven
Councils of the Church. It is also renowned for the site near Ephesus
which a venerable tradition holds to be the 'Home of Mary',the place
where the Mother of Jesus lived for some years. It is now a place of
devotion for innumerable pilgrims from all over the world, not only
for Christians, but also for Muslims.
“Yet, the reasons why Turkey is held
with such regard and appreciation are not only linked to its past and
ancient monuments, but also have to do with the vitality of its
present, the hard work and generosity of its people, and its role in
the concert of nations. It brings me great joy to have this
opportunity to pursue with you a dialogue of friendship, esteem and
respect, in the footsteps of my predecessors Blessed Paul VI, Saint
John Paul II and Benedict XVI. This dialogue was prepared for and
supported by the work of the then apostolic delegate, Angelo Giuseppe
Roncalli, who went on to become Saint John XXIII, and by the Second
Vatican Council”.
The Pope reiterated the need for a
dialogue to “deepen the understanding and appreciation of the many
things which we hold in common. Such a dialogue will allow us to
reflect sensibly and serenely on our differences,and to learn from
them. There is a need to move forward patiently in the task of
building a lasting peace, one founded on respect for the fundamental
rights and duties rooted in the dignity of each person. In this way,
we can overcome prejudices and unwarranted fears, leaving room for
respect, encounter, and the release of more positive energies for the
good of all”.
Therefore, “it is essential that all
citizens – Muslim, Jewish and Christian – both in the provision
and practice of the law, enjoy the same rights and respect the same
duties. They will then find it easier to see each other as brothers
and sisters who are travelling the same path, seeking always to
reject misunderstandings while promoting cooperation and concord.
Freedom of religion and freedom of expression, when truly guaranteed
to each person, will help friendship to flourish and thus become an
eloquent sign of peace.
“The Middle East, Europe and the
world all await this maturing of friendship. The Middle East, in
particular, has for too long been a theatre of fratricidal wars, one
born of the other, as if the only possible response to war and
violence must be new wars and further acts of violence. How much
longer must the Middle East suffer the consequences of this lack of
peace? We must not resign ourselves to ongoing conflicts as if the
situation can never change for the better! With the help of God, we
can and we must renew the courage of peace! Such courage will lead to
a just, patient and determined use of all available means of
negotiation, and in this way achieve the concrete goals of peace and
sustainable development”.
Addressing the president, the Pope
reaffirmed that “interreligious and intercultural dialogue can make
an important contribution to attaining this lofty and urgent goal, so
that there will be an end to all forms of fundamentalism and
terrorism which gravely demean the dignity of every man and woman and
exploit religion. Fanaticism and fundamentalism, as well as
irrational fears which foster misunderstanding and discrimination,
need to be countered by the solidarity of all believers. This
solidarity must rest on the following pillars: respect for human life
and for religious freedom, that is the freedom to worship and to live
according to the moral teachings of one’s religion; commitment to
ensuring what each person requires for a dignified life; and care for
the natural environment. The peoples and the states of the Middle
East stand in urgent need of such solidarity, so that they can
'reverse the trend' and successfully advance a peace process,
repudiating war and violence and pursuing dialogue, the rule of law,
and justice.
“Sadly, to date, we are still
witnessing grave conflicts. In Syria and Iraq, particularly,
terrorist violence shows no signs of abating. Prisoners and entire
ethnic populations are experiencing the violation of the most basic
humanitarian laws. Grave persecutions have taken place in the past
and still continue today to the detriment of minorities, especially –
though not only – Christians and Yazidis. Hundreds of thousands of
persons have been forced to abandon their homes and countries in
order to survive and remain faithful to their religious beliefs.
Turkey, which has generously welcomed a
great number of refugees, is directly affected by this tragic
situation on its borders; the international community has the moral
obligation to assist Turkey in taking care of these refugees. In
addition to providing much needed assistance and humanitarian aid, we
cannot remain indifferent to the causes of these tragedies. In
reaffirming that it is licit, while always respecting international
law, to stop an unjust aggressor, I wish to reiterate, moreover, that
the problem cannot be resolved solely through a military response.
What is required is a concerted commitment on the part of all, based
on mutual trust, which can pave the way to lasting peace, and enable
resources to be directed, not to weaponry, but to the other noble
battles worthy of man: the fight against hunger and sickness, the
promotion of sustainable development and the protection of creation,
and the relief of the many forms of poverty and marginalisation of
which there is no shortage in the world today”.
The Pope concluded, “Turkey, by
virtue of its history, geographical position and regional influence,
has a great responsibility: the choices which Turkey makes and its
example are especially significant and can be of considerable help in
promoting an encounter of civilisations and in identifying viable
paths of peace and authentic progress. May the Most High bless and
protect Turkey, and help the nation to be a strong and fervent
peacemaker”.