VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 211   
   DATE 28-11-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Pope arrives in Turkey, a land able to promote an encounter of   
   civilisations and identify viable paths of peace and authentic progress   
   - Indulgences for the Year of Consecrated Life   
   - Notice   
      
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    The Pope arrives in Turkey, a land able to promote an encounter of   
   civilisations and identify viable paths of peace and authentic progress   
    Vatican City, 28 November 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis began the   
   sixth apostolic trip of his pontificate. His visit to Turkey is essentially of   
   an ecumenical nature, like those of his predecessors; the country has occupied   
   a privileged position in the geography of papal trips ever since the visit of   
   the Apostolic Delegate Angelo Roncalli, referred to by the Turkish authorities   
   as "the first Turkish pope in history" following his election as Pope John   
   XXIII. Turkey was also the destination of Paul VI's fifth apostolic trip in   
   1967, a corollary of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and his historic embrace   
   with the Ecumenical Patriarch Atenagoras in Jerusalem. John Paul II continued   
   the tradition with his fourth trip (1979) as did Benedict XVI with his fifth   
   apostolic trip, in 2006.   
    The Holy Father departed from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 9 a.m., and reached   
   the Turkish capital Ankara at 1 pm (local time) where he was received by the   
   civil and religious authorities. He transferred by car to the mausoleum of   
   Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic,   
   the "Father of the Turks" who guided Turkey's radical rupture with its Ottoman   
   past, laying down the foundations of the modern secular state in its 1937   
   Constitution. Upon arrival the Pope was received by the Commander of the   
   Guard, ascended the Steps of Honour, left a floral tribute and prayed for a   
   moment. He was then accompanied to the nearby "Tower of National Pact", where   
   he signed the guest book.   
    He then paid a visit to the Presidential Palace or "Ak Saray" (White Palace),   
   inaugurated just two months ago by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and   
   substituting the historic Cankaya Palace. The Holy Father was received by the   
   president, and the two spoke in private for a few minutes, after which Pope   
   Francis gave his first public address on Turkish soil, addressed to the   
   authorities gathered in the Ak Saray.   
    "I am pleased to visit your country so rich in natural beauty and history,   
   and filled with vestiges of ancient civilisations. It is a natural bridge   
   between two continents and diverse cultures", the Pope began. "This land is   
   precious to every Christian for being the birthplace of Saint Paul, who   
   founded various Christian communities here, and for hosting the first seven   
   Councils of the Church. It is also renowned for the site near Ephesus which a   
   venerable tradition holds to be the 'Home of Mary',the place where the Mother   
   of Jesus lived for some years. It is now a place of devotion for innumerable   
   pilgrims from all over the world, not only for Christians, but also for   
   Muslims.   
    "Yet, the reasons why Turkey is held with such regard and appreciation are   
   not only linked to its past and ancient monuments, but also have to do with   
   the vitality of its present, the hard work and generosity of its people, and   
   its role in the concert of nations. It brings me great joy to have this   
   opportunity to pursue with you a dialogue of friendship, esteem and respect,   
   in the footsteps of my predecessors Blessed Paul VI, Saint John Paul II and   
   Benedict XVI. This dialogue was prepared for and supported by the work of the   
   then apostolic delegate, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who went on to become Saint   
   John XXIII, and by the Second Vatican Council".   
    The Pope reiterated the need for a dialogue to "deepen the understanding and   
   appreciation of the many things which we hold in common. Such a dialogue will   
   allow us to reflect sensibly and serenely on our differences,and to learn from   
   them. There is a need to move forward patiently in the task of building a   
   lasting peace, one founded on respect for the fundamental rights and duties   
   rooted in the dignity of each person. In this way, we can overcome prejudices   
   and unwarranted fears, leaving room for respect, encounter, and the release of   
   more positive energies for the good of all".   
    Therefore, "it is essential that all citizens - Muslim, Jewish and Christian   
   - both in the provision and practice of the law, enjoy the same rights and   
   respect the same duties. They will then find it easier to see each other as   
   brothers and sisters who are travelling the same path, seeking always to   
   reject misunderstandings while promoting cooperation and concord. Freedom of   
   religion and freedom of expression, when truly guaranteed to each person, will   
   help friendship to flourish and thus become an eloquent sign of peace.   
    "The Middle East, Europe and the world all await this maturing of friendship.   
   The Middle East, in particular, has for too long been a theatre of fratricidal   
   wars, one born of the other, as if the only possible response to war and   
   violence must be new wars and further acts of violence. How much longer must   
   the Middle East suffer the consequences of this lack of peace? We must not   
   resign ourselves to ongoing conflicts as if the situation can never change for   
   the better! With the help of God, we can and we must renew the courage of   
   peace! Such courage will lead to a just, patient and determined use of all   
   available means of negotiation, and in this way achieve the concrete goals of   
   peace and sustainable development".   
    Addressing the president, the Pope reaffirmed that "interreligious and   
   intercultural dialogue can make an important contribution to attaining this   
   lofty and urgent goal, so that there will be an end to all forms of   
   fundamentalism and terrorism which gravely demean the dignity of every man and   
   woman and exploit religion. Fanaticism and fundamentalism, as well as   
   irrational fears which foster misunderstanding and discrimination, need to be   
   countered by the solidarity of all believers. This solidarity must rest on the   
   following pillars: respect for human life and for religious freedom, that is   
   the freedom to worship and to live according to the moral teachings of one's   
   religion; commitment to ensuring what each person requires for a dignified   
   life; and care for the natural environment. The peoples and the states of the   
   Middle East stand in urgent need of such solidarity, so that they can 'reverse   
   the trend' and successfully advance a peace process, repudiating war and   
   violence and pursuing dialogue, the rule of law, and justice.   
    "Sadly, to date, we are still witnessing grave conflicts. In Syria and Iraq,   
   particularly, terrorist violence shows no signs of abating. Prisoners and   
   entire ethnic populations are experiencing the violation of the most basic   
   humanitarian laws. Grave persecutions have taken place in the past and still   
   continue today to the detriment of minorities, especially - though not only -   
   Christians and Yazidis. Hundreds of thousands of persons have been forced to   
   abandon their homes and countries in order to survive and remain faithful to   
   their religious beliefs.   
    Turkey, which has generously welcomed a great number of refugees, is directly   
   affected by this tragic situation on its borders; the international community   
   has the moral obligation to assist Turkey in taking care of these refugees. In   
   addition to providing much needed assistance and humanitarian aid, we cannot   
   remain indifferent to the causes of these tragedies. In reaffirming that it is   
   licit, while always respecting international law, to stop an unjust aggressor,   
   I wish to reiterate, moreover, that the problem cannot be resolved solely   
   through a military response. What is required is a concerted commitment on the   
   part of all, based on mutual trust, which can pave the way to lasting peace,   
   and enable resources to be directed, not to weaponry, but to the other noble   
   battles worthy of man: the fight against hunger and sickness, the promotion of   
   sustainable development and the protection of creation, and the relief of the   
   many forms of poverty and marginalisation of which there is no shortage in the   
   world today".   
    The Pope concluded, "Turkey, by virtue of its history, geographical position   
   and regional influence, has a great responsibility: the choices which Turkey   
   makes and its example are especially significant and can be of considerable   
   help in promoting an encounter of civilisations and in identifying viable   
   paths of peace and authentic progress. May the Most High bless and protect   
   Turkey, and help the nation to be a strong and fervent peacemaker".   
      
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    Indulgences for the Year of Consecrated Life   
    Vatican City, 28 November 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father, on the occasion of   
   the Year of Consecrated Life, will concede plenary indulgences, with the   
   customary conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer   
   in keeping with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) to all members of the   
   institutes of consecrated life and other truly repentant faithful moved by a   
   spirit of charity, starting from the first Sunday of Advent this year until 2   
   February 2016, the day of the closure of the Year of Consecrated Life. The   
   indulgence may also be offered for departed souls in Purgatory.   
    Indulgence may be obtained:   
    - In Rome, in participation in the international meetings and celebrations   
   established in the calendar of the Congregation for the Institutes of   
   Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, and pious reflection on   
   for a suitable period of time, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, the   
   Profession of Faith in any legitimate approved form, and invocations of the   
   Virgin Mary;   
    - In all the particular Churches, during the days devoted to consecrated life   
   in the diocese, and during diocesan celebrations organised for the Year of   
   Consecrated Life, by visiting the cathedral or another sacred place designated   
   with the consent of the Ordinary of the place, or a convent church or oratory   
   of a cloistered monastery, and publicly reciting the Liturgy of the Hours or   
   through a suitable period of time of devout reflection, concluding with the   
   Lord's Prayer, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate approved form, and   
   pious invocations of the Virgin Mary.   
    Members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life who, on account of ill health   
   or other serious reasons are prevented from visiting these sacred places, may   
   nonetheless receive Plenary Indulgence if, completely detached from any type   
   of sin and with the intention of being able to fulfil the three usual   
   conditions as soon as possible, devoutly carry out the spiritual visit and   
   offer their illness and the hardships of their life to God the merciful   
   through Mary, with the addition of the prayers as above.   
    To facilitate this access to divine grace by means of pastoral charity, the   
   Apostolic Penitentiary Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who signed the decree, asks   
   that the canons, members of the Chapter, the priests of the Institutes of   
   Consecrated Life and all others able to hear confessions offer themselves   
   willingly and generously to the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation   
   and regularly administer Holy Communion to the sick.   
      
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    Notice   
    Vatican City, 28 November 2014 (VIS) - Special editions of the VIS bulletin   
   will be transmitted on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November, on the occasion of   
   Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Turkey.   
      
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