Turkish Muslims ‘deeply appreciated’ papal visit

Last updated on: December 4, 2014 at 7:03 pm by CNA Daily News

Turkish Muslims ‘deeply appreciated’ papal visit 2014-12-04T19:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Istanbul, Turkey, Dec 4, 2014 / 12:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis' visit to Turkey was highly appreciated by Muslims because of the care and interest he demonstrated for them, and for his acknowledgement that not all Muslims are terrorists, a local scholar has said.

“The Turkish people deeply appreciated the Pope’s visit,” Zeynet Cebeci Suvari, a Ph.D. candidate at Bogazici University, told CNA. “The message is clear: 'I care about you and that is why I am here'. Even only this gesture means a lot in itself, without any words uttered.”

Cebeci Suvari, a Muslim, is the first non-Christian to earn a licentiate in sacred theology from a pontifical university, having graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

She commented that “in general, Muslims do not know much about how Holy Father is perceived in the Catholic world …. the differences among the various confessions of Christianity do not mean anything to an ordinary Muslim.”

In Turkey, Muslims are more familiar with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the head of Eastern Orthodoxy. The patriarchate is located in Istanbul, and the patriarch, Bartholomew I, is himself Turkish.

“The more important a role the patriarchate can play in the Christian world, the more respected it will become by Muslims as well,” said Cebeci Suvari.

“Although Turkey’s relationship with its Christian minorities is still problematic today, hopefully the respect shown to Bartholomew I by the Pope can set a good example for the Turkish leaders.”

She then stressed that “leaders can be pioneers in spreading wisdom and kindness among their people, and this can only be achieved when leaders talk to each other.”

In Turkey, Cebeci Suvari explained, “the rise of the nationalist societies was hurtful for cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism. All of a sudden, each nation was closed in itself and tried to find a scapegoat among the neighbors who have been living together for centuries.”

Some of the appreciation for Pope Francis' visit is because it “tells the world that not all Muslims are barbaric terrorists. There is too much disinformation about culture and religion. Pope Francis' visit may have shattered some of misconceptions about religions.”

During his trip, and again during his flight back from Turkey, Pope Francis had underscored that Muslims should speak out against violence and terrorism.

“Every single Muslim that I know is disturbed by the Islamic State,” Cebeci Suvari said.

She explained that the “slowness of reaction” is an outcome of the fact “Muslims do not perceive Islamic State as Muslim. What Islamic State is doing in the name of Islam has no resemblance to the Islam these ordinary Muslims know.”

“They do not relate to it, and so they do not even think they should talk against it.”

“They are baffled how anyone cannot see that this is not the real Islam,” Cebeci Suvari said.

Europe

Previous Post

December 4, 2014

Pope Francis praises the 'hidden holiness' of everyday saints

Next Post

December 4, 2014 Coming soon: the Vatican's report on US women religious

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to 1 Peter, what covers over a multitude of sins?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Love Prayer Faith Repentance