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"Since 22nd June, it has been an uninterrupted succession of pilgrims coming from many countries, mostly from Italy, Germany, Spain and France. No day passes without groups of devotees arriving in Tarsus, an incredible bustle compared with the past. Unfortunately, there's no church yet". With his words, mgr. Luigi Padovese, vicar apostolic of Anatolia and president of the Turkish Bishops, expresses his great satisfaction for a Pauline Year that started off on the right foot as well as his disappointment that despite the promises a place of worship for the devotees cannot be had yet. "The presence of the pilgrims - he comments to SIR - gives visibility to the Turkish Church as well and to all Christians. The devotees come here to pray and this is a great testimony to the Muslim world which thus realises that Christians too pray, believe in God and have an attitude of faith. Then I'd like to add that for those who live here there's also the financial benefit that these groups bear with them and also boosts the local life". According to the bishop, a plus factor is the abolition of the entrance ticket to the church-museum of Tarsus: "now the pilgrims feel as if they are entering a church, not a museum". However, as to this church, the decision of the authorities to permanently let it be had as a place of worship is still pending. "I have a feeling that the authorities, at different levels, mean to give us this church, but nothing has been done so far - explains mgr. Padovese -. We will be waiting for them to pass from words to action. A few days ago, some German MEPs took action about this too, when they were visiting Tarsus to meet the deputy prefect of the city and to insist on the need for the devotees to have a place of worship. The request for a pilgrims' centre, which should be housed in an old wool factory next to the church, as proposed by the Turkish Minister of Tourism and Culture, is also pending".
News by SIR