“Witness is more important than presence for the Church in Turkey”. According to the apostolic nuncio to Turkey, Mgr Antonio Lucibello, it is not a question of numbers. “In the twenties there were two million Christians in the country while today they are approximately 100,000. Today it is worth considering the appeal launched by the Turkish bishops more than ten years ago – which is still relevant today - “to shift our attention from the presence to the witness”. “The witness is effective for we are more touched by witnesses than by teachers”, said the nuncio who had followed card. Jean Louis Tauran, sent by the Pope to Turkey to celebrate the conclusion of the Pauline Year. This is true not only for Turkey, where “every day Christians experience the martyrdom of patience which can be turned into a bloody experience like in the case of Roman priest Andrea Santoro and other Christians”. Referring to the condition of the Church in Turkey, the nuncio points out that “she has high prestige, especially for the cultural and educational work carried out in her institutions such as Notre Dame de Sion and Saint Benoit in Istanbul. Muslims are proud of the education received at our centres”. “Nevertheless, we should pursue our dialogue with mutual understanding and respect starting from this Pauline Year”.
© SIR