by Dario Salvi

For Bishop Palinuro, the presence of Leo XIV has restored "enthusiasm" to a Catholic community that had fallen into a certain torpor. The encounter with Orthodox leaders represented a return "to the origins of our faith," even if challenges remain. The pontiff's simple gestures have lifted “biases" among Muslims. The Vatican and Turkey are equally committed to peace in the Middle East through diplomacy.

 

Milan (AsiaNews) – The pope "rekindled enthusiasm" among the faithful, surprising them with "his simplicity" and his ability "to listen”, reawakening a Catholic community "from a certain torpor into which it had fallen”, this according to the Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul, Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, who, in an extensive interview with AsiaNews, retraces Leo XIV's apostolic journey to Turkey (and Lebanon), its high points, and its importance for the small, yet now more than ever vibrant, Turkish Catholic community.

From ecumenical dialogue to relations with the Islamic world, the prelate revisits many of the central themes of the visit with a cool head, even though unresolved issues remain, starting with inculturation and the pending approval of the Turkish language missal. Politically, a renewed understanding has emerged between Turkey and the Holy See on the "Two Peoples, Two States" solution to the conflict in Gaza.

The interview with the Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul follows:

Your Excellency, can you summarise the pope's days in Turkey? What were the positive aspects, and where did Leo XIV surprise you most?

The pope's visit rekindled enthusiasm for discipleship in all who welcomed him. His simplicity and his ability to listen to people were particularly striking. The pace of the visit was very hectic, and his undertakings overlapped, yet he approached each meeting with an unflappable serenity that he managed to convey to everyone.

His powerful words, his message of peace, and his testimony of faith have rekindled hope in our communities. It was wonderful to see people's enthusiasm, both in the preparation of the events and in their execution. All of this creates a desire to start over and has awakened and reawakened our community from a certain torpor into which it had fallen, also generating considerable interest in the Christian message outside of the ecclesial context.

We have received and are receiving many requests for meetings, discussions, and participation from people who have been touched by Pope Leo's message. So we could say that this visit has certainly had a positive impact on evangelisation, on bearing witness to the Gospel message.

How significant is this visit for ecumenical dialogue, and what will be the next steps?

The celebration of the seventeenth centenary of the Council of Nicaea has encouraged us to return to the origins of our faith, to the very heart of the Christian faith. And all Christians recognise themselves in the single profession of faith of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

This was and remains an essential starting point in the logic of the practical ecumenism inaugurated by Pope John (XXIII). We seek what unites, we set aside what divides. This visit has given us the grace to begin again from what unites, from what is essential. There is no doubt that this visit also highlighted the weaknesses of ecumenical dialogue, the limited participation of the Greek Orthodox churches, and the ongoing division within the Orthodox world.

I would even say it revealed further fragility, given that some theological universities in the Orthodox world still teach that the Catholic faith is heretical, and enormous obstacles to theological dialogue must be overcome. In this sense, the visit exposed these raw nerves. In any case, we have come to realise even more, that the ecumenical journey is essential for the future of the Church and the Christian world.

What did the Pope's visit mean for Turkey’s "small but vibrant" Catholic community?

The Catholic community demonstrated all its enthusiasm and fervour. There was truly a reawakening even within individual communities, and many people who had grown distant, who had somewhat disappeared, assimilated into the vast Muslim majority, revived their sense of belonging to the ecclesial community. His visit strengthened the sense of belonging to the Church among all members of the community, even those who had grown lukewarm or were at risk of assimilation.

Did you exchange a few words in person with the Pope? And what did you say?

Yes, we had the opportunity to share a moment of dialogue. The small Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey, composed of six bishops, had the opportunity for a meeting lasting about an hour, during which the Holy Father wanted to hear about our lives, our problems, and, as I said at the beginning, what was striking was his great ability to listen.

We addressed in particular the issue of inculturation, because the Turkish Catholic Church is still considered a Church made up of foreigners serving foreigners. In fact, there is a local community, even a very vibrant one, composed of Turks who have accepted the Gospel. Unfortunately, the difficulty of inculturation, particularly the difficulty of the Turkish language, constitutes an obstacle to a more effective witness to the Gospel.

We addressed the issue of the new translation of the Missal into Turkish, which has been completed and awaits approval from the competent dicastery, asking the pope to grant this request. It is important to support its approval, to ensure that, in the liturgy, the Turkish language can also be an effective tool for evangelisation.

The pope visited the Blue Mosque, but he did not go to Hagia Sophia. What can you tell us about it from the perspective of interfaith dialogue with the Turkish Muslim world?

The visit to the Blue Mosque, as well as that with the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, the Grand Mufti of Turkey (Ali Erbaş), had a positive impact on Turkish public opinion and helped allay some of the fears that existed and still exist among Muslims. Among the most conservative circles in Turkish society, the pope’s visit was seen as an attempt at reconquest, as an intrusion of the Christian world into Turkish Muslim society. Instead, these simple deeds show Catholics' profound respect and sincere fraternity towards Muslim believers, and this helped lift the biases and intolerance that had been fuelled by the most radical groups in Turkish society.

Turkey is a major player in the various crises tearing the Middle East apart. From your perspective, how do you view the conflict in Gaza?

Certainly, Turkey plays a key role on the international stage, In particular, Turkish diplomacy is skilled at mediation. Many peace talks have taken place here in Turkey, hosted by President (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan, both regarding the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ankara is working hard to find a resolution to these conflicts, and the pope's visit was welcomed by the Turkish government precisely as a sign of support for these efforts to overcome serious conflicts.

Turkey recognises the Holy See's position as closest to its own ideas for overcoming conflicts, especially regarding the Palestinian question, with its insistence on the "Two Peoples, Two States" solution, which continues to be very close to Turkey's position.

This shared vision on key issues in ongoing conflicts means that for the Holy See finds Turkey is an interesting ally at the international level, just as Turkey considers the Holy See's voice in the West to be closest to its own geopolitical perspective.

Bishop Palinuro, how is the Turkish Catholic community, particularly the Vicariate of Istanbul, preparing for the Christmas holidays?

The beginning of Advent has been marked by the grace of the pope's visit. Now, with renewed enthusiasm, we set out to welcome the coming of the Lord, the “Prince of Peace”, and our fundamental commitment now is precisely to reopen our hearts to the Lord who comes. The theme of solidarity will also characterise this Christmas.

We live in a context in which the poverty of so many people demands that we welcome the Lord in the poor, in the refugees, in the migrants, in the people who lost everything. It is there that we must learn to recognise the Lord who knocks on our door and asks to be welcomed and consoled; this Advent must be characterised by solidarity and the ability to sympathise, to practise the virtue of empathy towards others.

This is what Christmas asks of us, especially as so many victims of war and persecution still knock on our doors and Turkey continues to be a country that welcomes so many migrants and refugees fleeing war, persecution, and poverty. The Church here is called to welcome the Lord who comes in the concreteness of the poor, the suffering, and the lost.

• vatican
• turkey
• pope leo xiv
• apostolic vicar
• massimiliano palinuro
• apostolic visit