An inward-looking Turkey looks to Pope Francis' visit with sympathy
Istanbul (AsiaNews) - When Pope Francis starts his visit to Turkey in a few days, he will find an inward-looking country. Local newspapers have so far been quite discreet in their coverage of the Argentine pope's visit, a far cry from the hype that preceded Benedict XVI's arrival in 2006.
Even though eight years have gone by, the great tensions of that time are still etched in people's minds. For months, all the media could talk about was the papal trip to Turkey, especially after the German pontiff's Regensburg speech, which sparked a great deal of controversy and many lies about him and his visit.
At the time, only 10 per cent of Turks were in favour of the visit; 38 per cent were strongly opposed; another 38 per cent was indifferent; 14 per cent had no opinion. Many in the media relished blowing things out of proportion, as they criticised and presented a distorted and false image of an inconvenient and meddling visitor.
In many a paper, a steady stream of reports dismissed and disparaged this leader of the Christian world, stressing how as a cardinal he had expressed negative views about Turkey's candidacy for European Union membership.
Everyone was gripped by fear that something would happen to him, that he would not be accepted, that he might say or do something that might trigger an uproar.
Radical Islamists from the Felicity Party pledged to bring out in protest a million people from all over Turkey. They handed out leaflets throughout Anatolia calling on the people to demonstrate "against the new crusader alliance" in all-out advertising campaign against the "Pope's visit to Turkey."
In the end, "only" 10,000 showed up but the posters they carried are still impressed on our memory, with the pope depicted as a snake with a forked tongue, wrapped around Patriarch Bartholomew I, another poisonous snake.
Yet, through small gestures, Benedict XVI managed to turn the tide of hostility and was able to enter everyone's hearts, even in the great metropolis of the Sublime Porte.
Now the Turkey that is waiting for Francis is a different one. Newspapers have printed a few simple lines about the pope's schedule, plus a few pointless comments and some questions about what Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the Argentinian pope might talk about.
There is much less fuss because Turkey is caught up in its own many domestic social and economic problems, with clashes and tensions on its borders, coping with an unprecedented "invasion" by Kurdish, Syrian and Iraqi refugees, especially women, seniors and children steadily streaming across Turkey's southern border.
A different Turkey has its eyes set on the two Christian, Catholic and Orthodox, leaders, especially because the Turks feel deep sympathy for Francis. Indeed, his public diaconate has positively impressed non-Christians.
An ethos of simplicity and warmth for every human being, especially for those who are suffering, for the poor, the marginalised and the excluded, and a desire for peace and the rejection of every kind of violence and abuse distinguish the pope's preaching and way of life. Whilst meeting the needs of the present time, they make people feel closer and more benevolently predisposed towards him.
At present, Turks feel friendly towards the papal institution; they see no sign of arrogance in it. Everyone hopes that the meeting between Francis and Turkish political and religious authorities on 28 November in Ankara will bear fruit in terms of justice and peace, and that, thanks to him, in a sign of mutual respect, solutions will be found for working together on behalf of the common good, above all to serve the needy, the poor and the many refugees who have sought sanctuary in Turkey.
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27/06/2016 18:12
