(ANS - Rome)- "From next Friday to Sunday I will travel to Turkey on an Apostolic Journey. I invite everyone to pray that this visit of Peter to his brother Andrea bear fruits of peace, sincere dialogue between religions and concord in the Turkish nation." With these words Pope Francis concluded his general audience yesterday, Wednesday 26 November.

Turkey, a nation of about 76 million inhabitants, is the land bridge between Europe and Asia.  For some time now it has been hoping to join the European Union and this often provokes opposition.

The country is overwhelmingly Muslim. Christians number 120 thousand, and Catholics about 53,000, representing 0.07% of the population. They belong to different rites: Byzantine, Latin, Armenian and Chaldean. There are fifty-four parishes, six bishops, six diocesan priests, fifty-two religious priests, fifty-four religious sisters, 7 religious brothers and some lay missionaries. Religion must be declared in every citizen’s  identity card and the situation for Christians is not always easy.

In his three-day visit, Pope Francis will visit symbolic places in the country, such as the mausoleum of Ataturk in Ankara and the Museum of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. He will meet the main political authorities of the country and will participate in various religious functions with the small local Catholic community, as well as ecumenical celebrations in a spirit of brotherhood with Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Salesians have been in Turkey since 1903. In Istanbul there is a community of seven confreres belonging to the Middle Eastern Province. The community is engaged in a variiety of services. They run the Catholic parish of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes of the Georgians, an oratory and youth centre and various chaplaincies. They also run a kindergarten and an elementary and middle school - one of the few schools run by religious. They offer assistance to refugees and immigrants and look after the administration of the House of Refugees. They also provide pastoral care for the Salesian Cooperators and the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA).

Published 27/11/2014