Acknowledging that his four-day trip to Turkey would be largely symbolic, Pope Benedict XVI opened his visit by paying respect to the Turkish state and extending a hand of friendship to its predominantly Muslim population.
On the plane from Rome Nov. 28, Pope Benedict told reporters, "We must not exaggerate; one cannot expect great results in just three days. The value (of the trip) I would say is symbolic, the fruit of the encounters themselves, of encounters in friendship and respect."
The pope's first formal speech in Turkey came in an address at the government's religious affairs directorate, which controls Turkey's mosques and Muslim schools and implements government policy on religion.
Before giving their speeches in the building's auditorium, Pope Benedict and Ali Bardakoglu, the office's director, met for about half an hour with members of the papal entourage and Turkish Muslim officials, including the grand muftis of Ankara and Istanbul.
They spoke calmly and warmly of their visions of the importance of interreligious dialogue and greater understanding between Catholics and Muslims.
During the conversation, the pope told his Muslim hosts: "There are so many wars, so much human blood shed every day. Religion should be a force of peace and reconciliation."
In the wake of continuing anger among some Muslims over the pope's use of a quotation criticizing Islam in September, Pope Benedict used his speech at the religious affairs directorate to pay his respects to the positive values promoted by Islam and to affirm the Catholic Church's commitment to Christian-Muslim dialogue.
Bardakoglu also stressed the importance of dialogue and respect, but took to task those Christians who, under what he described as the effects of "Islamophobia," believe that Islam is a violent faith spread throughout history by the sword. Islam, he said, is a religion of peace, and it condemns terrorism and any taking of an innocent life.
Rising prejudice, Bardakoglu said, feeds the hatred of those who misuse religion for political purposes and invoke religion as an excuse for their violence.
The brownstone building where he and the pope met had been the scene of a small anti-papal protest hours before the pope's arrival. Turkish police and military with riot gear and armored personnel carriers were on hand to ensure nothing interrupted the pope's visit.
Intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the pope said, "cannot be reduced to an optional extra," but is an obligation of religious leaders.
Pope Benedict, offering a basic introduction to the Second Vatican Council's teaching on relations with the world's great religious traditions, pointed out that both Christians and Muslims believe in "the truth of the sacred character and dignity of the human person."
Both faiths profess belief in one God, and both teach their followers that all human beings were created by God and that being at home with God is the goal of each person's earthly pilgrimage.
"This human and spiritual unity in our origins and destiny impels us to seek a common path as we play our part in the quest for fundamental values so characteristic of the people of our time," he said.
Together, the pope said, Christians and Muslims must witness to the fact that being created by God and destined to eternity with him can give meaning to people's lives and that when they recognize the truth of God's existence they will live in a way that will benefit all people and the earth itself.
"We are called to work together, so as to help society to open itself to the transcendent, giving almighty God his rightful place," the pope said.
"The best way forward," he told the Muslim leaders, "is via authentic dialogue between Christians and Muslims, based on truth and inspired by a sincere wish to know one another better, respecting differences and recognizing what we have in common."
The pope ended his address with a prayer that Christians and Muslims would persevere along the path of dialogue "in respect and friendship. May we come to know one another better, strengthening the bonds of affection between us in our common wish to live together in harmony, peace and mutual trust."
Bardakoglu echoed the main themes of Pope Benedict's speech, especially the assertion that when followed faithfully religions are "the source of peace and well-being."
But too often, he said, people give greater importance to belonging to a specific religion than to recognizing that all people are "the children of Adam."
Bardakoglu said he, the pope and other religious leaders have an obligation to guide members of their communities in preserving their own traditions while recognizing that "all such religious, ethnic and cultural differences are the revelation of divine love, mercy and wisdom."
He particularly asked for Catholic-Muslim cooperation in addressing the world's "ethical and moral crisis," especially as it applies to family values.
The religious affairs director hailed the pope's visit as "a positive step" toward reconciliation and toward the building of "mutual respect, justice and equality."
'An apostle of dialogue and peace'
Addressing international diplomats on his first day in Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI said respectful dialogue must be the basis for ending terrorism, wars and religious differences in the world.
Religions have a key role in this dialogue, but on the condition that they "utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of religion," the pope told a gathering of about 90 ambassadors in the Turkish capital of Ankara Nov. 28.
The pope, on his first trip to a predominantly Muslim country, made a point of expressing his "great esteem" for Muslims. He also cited Turkey's constitutional protection of religious freedom, and said every democratic state was duty-bound to guarantee those rights.
He began his wide-ranging talk by saying he had come to Turkey "as a friend and as an apostle of dialogue and peace."
Then the pope turned a critical eye to the international scene, saying economic imbalances and political disturbances need stronger international intervention as well as authentic dialogue between the parties directly involved.
"I am thinking most especially of the disturbing conflict in the Middle East, which shows no sign of abating and weighs heavily on the whole of international life; I am thinking of the risk of peripheral conflicts multiplying and terrorist actions spreading," he said.
He said that true peace needs justice, to correct the economic imbalances and political disturbances that generate tensions and conflict. That presupposes authentic dialogue and debate, in order to arrive at acceptable political solutions, he said.
The pope then spoke about the role of religions in the promotion of global peace and security.
He began by describing Turkey as a historic bridge between East and West, and as a crossroads of cultures and religions. As a modern state, he said, Turkey distinguishes clearly between civil society and religion.
Although Turkey's population is almost entirely Muslim, he said, its Constitution recognizes every citizen's right to freedom of worship and freedom of conscience.
In what appeared to be a gentle reminder to Turkish authorities to live up to those principles, the pope added: "Naturally it is my hope that believers, whichever religious community they belong to, will continue to benefit from these rights."
The Christian minorities in Turkey have pressed for better recognition of their religious rights in the areas of legal status, property and education.
The pope went on to say that religion's role in society is an enrichment for all. "This assumes, of course, that religions do not seek to exercise direct political power, as that is not their province, and it also assumes that they utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of religion," he said.
The pope avoided specific comments on Islam, except to urge cooperative Christian-Muslim dialogue. He said such dialogue is essential today "in order to know one another better and to respect one another, in order to work for the fulfillment of man's noblest aspirations, in search of God and in search of happiness."
"I wish to reiterate my great esteem for Muslims," he said, "encouraging them to continue to work together, in mutual respect, to promote the dignity of every human being and the growth of a society where personal freedom and care for others provide peace and serenity for all." ---CNS |