Witnesses of unity and peace, not tools to justify the atrocities of wars. Pope Leo’s journey speaks to Catholics, Christians, men and women of any faith and religion. In a sports arena, the Wolskwagen Arena, packed with the presence of those who, although not Catholic, wanted to greet the new Pontiff, Prevost celebrated mass. In the presence of approximately four thousand people, on the eve of the feast of Saint Andrew, “patron of this earth”, and starting the season of Advent which recalls “the mystery of Jesus, Son of God, “begotten, not created, of the same substance as the Father” (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed), as the Fathers gathered in Council in Nicaea solemnly declared 1,700 years ago”, Leo immediately says, the readings offer us “an invitation to all peoples to ascend the mountain of the Lord, a place of light and peace”.
Faithful in prayer during the Pope’s Mass at the Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul
(REUTERS)
And the Pontiff offers everyone two images: that of the «mountain high on the top of the mountains” which reminds us that “the fruits of God’s action in our lives are not a gift just for us, but for everyone” because the “joy of good is contagious”. And that «of a world in which peace reigns”. Repeating Isaiah’s call – «they will break their swords and make plowshares, they will make sickles of their spears; a nation will no longer raise the sword against another nation, they will no longer learn the art of war” – underlines “how much need for peace, unity and reconciliation there is around us, and also in us and between us!” and the question arises of “how can we help answer that question”. It recalls, once again, the logo of the journey, that bridge which «crossing the Bosphorus Strait, unites two continents: Asia and Europe. Over time, two more passages were added to it, so that currently there are three points of connection between the two sides. Three large structures of communication, exchange, meeting: impressive to behold, yet so small and fragile, when compared to the immense territories they connect.”
Pope Leo XIV with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the end of the Mass at the Volkswagen Arena
(REUTERS)
A triple “spread across the Strait” which makes us think, says Leone, “of the importance of our common efforts for unity at three levels: within the community, in ecumenical relationships with members of other Christian confessions and in the meeting with brothers and sisters belonging to other religions». We need to take care of these three bridges and strengthen them. This “is part of our vocation to be a city built on the mountain”.
Talk about the four liturgical traditions of the Catholic Church present in Türkiye: Latin, Armenian, Chaldean and Syrian. And remember that «each brings its own richness on a spiritual, historical and ecclesial level. Sharing these differences can eminently show one of the most beautiful features of the face of the Bride of Christ: that of the catholicity that unites. THEThe unity that is cemented around the Altar is a gift from God, and as such it is strong and invincible, because it is the work of his grace”. The realization of this unity is, however, entrusted to our efforts. «For this, like the bridges over the Bosphorus, it needs care, attention, “maintenance”, so that time and vicissitudes do not weaken the structures and so that the foundations remain firm”. And also to be witnesses, in the eyes of the world, “of the universal and infinite love of the Lord”.
In addition to unity among Catholics, we must then work for ecumenism. He greets with “deep gratitude” the representatives of other confessions present at the mass. And he reiterates that «the same faith in the Savior unites us not only among ourselves, but with all our brothers and sisters belonging to other Churches and Christian Communities. We experienced it yesterday, in prayer in İznik. This too is a path along which we have been walking together for some time, and of which Saint John XXIII was a great promoter and witness, linked to this land by intense bonds of mutual affection”. Therefore, in the same words of Pope John «let us renew ours today “yes” to unity, “so that everyone may be one”, “ut unum sint”».
Finally, the bond with those belonging to non-Christian communities. «We live in a world where religion is too often used to justify wars and atrocities. However, we know that, as the Second Vatican Council states, “man’s attitude towards God the Father and that of man towards other men, his brothers, are so connected that the Scripture says: ‘He who does not love does not know God'” he underlines, citing the declaration Nostra aetate. Hence the invitation to «walk together, valorizing what unites us, demolishing the walls of preconception and mistrust, promoting mutual knowledge and esteem, to give everyone a strong message of hope and an invitation to become “peacemakers”».
Finally the invitation to to make “these values the resolutions for the season of Advent and even more so for our lives, both personal and community”. Because «our steps move as if on a bridge that unites the earth to Heaven and that the Lord has laid out for us. Let us always keep our eyes fixed on its banks, to love God and our brothers with all our hearts, to walk together and to be able to meet again, one day, all of us, in the Father’s house.”
