Benedict and religious freedom in Turkey

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Rome

The leitmotif of Benedict XVI’s Nov. 28-Dec. 1 trip to Turkey was the effort to mend fences following his Sept. 12 comments at the University of Regensburg, effectively linking Islam with violence. In light of that agenda, and keeping in mind the precarious conditions facing Turkey’s local Christian population, the pope took great pains not to offend his Turkish hosts.

Never did Benedict specifically engage the de jure and de facto forms of discrimination facing Christians in Turkey, including the fact that Christian churches have no legal personality and hence cannot own property or enter into contracts; it’s often impossible to obtain permits to repair or build churches; Turks who convert to Christianity are sometimes harassed, finding it difficult even to change their religious affiliation on their Turkish identity card; visiting clergy are sometimes denied visas or residency permits; especially in rural areas, the Turkish press often floats conspiracy theories and charges of “proselytism” against Christians; Turkish authorities do not recognize any “ecumenical” role for the Patriarch of Constantinople, restricting eligibility for the office to Turkish citizens; and most notoriously, the seminaries of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox churches have been closed by government edict since 1971.

Yet even if Benedict left all this unsaid, he did repeatedly invoke religious freedom at the level of general principle. Six times over the course of his four-day visit, Benedict either made the case for religious freedom, or referred in oblique fashion to the “trials” of the local Christian community. He made a similar reference in his Sunday Angelus address, two days after his return.

Here, collected in one place, are all of Benedict’s references to religious freedom during the course of the Turkey trip.

Meeting with Ali Bardakoglu, President of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Tuesday, Nov. 28
“Freedom of religion, institutionally guaranteed and effectively respected in practice, both for individuals and communities, constitutes for all believers the necessary condition for their loyal contribution to the building up of society, in an attitude of authentic service, especially towards the most vulnerable and the poor.”

Meeting with Ambassadors accredited to Ankara, Tuesday, Nov. 28
“The fact that the majority of the population of this country is Muslim is a significant element in the life of society, which the State cannot fail to take into account, yet the Turkish Constitution recognizes every citizen’s right to freedom of worship and freedom of conscience. The civil authorities of every democratic country are duty bound to guarantee the effective freedom of all believers and to permit them to organize freely the life of their religious communities. Naturally it is my hope that believers, whichever religious community they belong to, will continue to benefit from these rights, since I am certain that religious liberty is a fundamental expression of human liberty and that the active presence of religions in society is a source of progress and enrichment for all.”

Mass at the Marian shrine of Meryem Ana Evì, Ephesus, Wednesday, Nov. 29
“Dear brothers and sisters, in this visit I have wanted to convey my personal love and spiritual closeness, together with that of the universal Church, to the Christian community here in Turkey, a small minority which faces many challenges and difficulties daily. With firm trust let us sing, together with Mary, a magnificat of praise and thanksgiving to God who has looked with favor upon the lowliness of his servant (cf. Lk 1:48). Let us sing joyfully, even when we are tested by difficulties and dangers, as we have learned from the fine witness given by the Roman priest Don Andrea Santoro, whom I am pleased to recall in this celebration.”
[Note: Italian missionary Fr. Andrea Santoro was shot to death in the Black Sea city of Trabzon on Feb. 15 by a Turkish youth who later said he had been agitated by the Danish cartoon controversy].

Divine Liturgy at the Patriarch Church of St. George with the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, Thursday, Nov. 30
“For its part, the century that has just ended also saw courageous witnesses to the faith, in both East and West. Even now, there are many such witnesses in different parts of the world. We remember them in our prayer and, in whatever way we can, we offer them our support, as we urge all world leaders to respect religious freedom as a fundamental human right.”

Common Declaration with Bartholomew I, Thursday, Nov. 30
“We have viewed positively the process that has led to the formation of the European Union. Those engaged in this great project should not fail to take into consideration all aspects affecting the inalienable rights of the human person, especially religious freedom, a witness and guarantor of respect for all other freedoms. In every step towards unification, minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the distinguishing features of their religion. In Europe, while remaining open to other religions and to their cultural contributions, we must unite our efforts to preserve Christian roots, traditions and values, to ensure respect for history, and thus to contribute to the European culture of the future and to the quality of human relations at every level. In this context, how could we not evoke the very ancient witnesses and the illustrious Christian heritage of the land in which our meeting is taking place, beginning with what the Acts of the Apostles tells us concerning the figure of Saint Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles? In this land, the Gospel message and the ancient cultural tradition met. This link, which has contributed so much to the Christian heritage that we share, remains timely and will bear more fruit in the future for evangelization and for our unity.”

Mass at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul, Dec. 1
You know well that the Church wishes to impose nothing on anyone, and that she merely asks to live in freedom, in order to reveal the One whom she cannot hide, Christ Jesus, who loved us to the end on the Cross and who has given us his Spirit, the living presence of God among us and deep within us.

Sunday Angelus Address, Rome, Dec. 3
“I wish above to recall with grateful affection the dear Catholic community that lives on Turkish soil. I think of them while, on this Sunday, we enter into the time of Advent. I was able to meet and to celebrate the Holy Mass together with our brothers and sisters there, who find themselves in conditions which are often not easy. They are truly a small flock, diverse, rich in enthusiasm and faith, and, we could say, they live constantly and in a strong fashion the experience of Advent, sustained by hope.”