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Traffic in
Istanbul is slowly getting back to
normal. People are back on the
streets. Policemen are leaving way to
thousands of pedestrians hurrying by and
to cars that are back on the road. But
young Christians (and not just the
young), of varying rites and
denominations, continued celebrating,
dancing and singing at the top of their
lungs, long after Benedict XVI's
departure. There was a festive
atmosphere, despite the cold, in the
small courtyard of the Holy Spirit
Church, in the shade of the imposing
statues of Benedict XV and John XXIII:
they are certain that it was these two
predecessors who gave strength, courage
and a great sense of freedom to "their"
Pope. Who is one of them now.
Everything went well, much better than
actually expected. And they are
euphoric: they feel loved, valued,
revived.
"Of course, we'll
go back to our daily lives, our labours,
our worries, our dreams in a few hours,
but nothing will be the same," says
Rakel with a smile bursting with joy:
"We wanted to show the Holy Father our
affection and we asked that he return it
somehow. That he let us know that he's
near to us, that we're in his heart.
And now we're sure of this. Last night
when he looked out of the Nunciature's
window, where we had gathered
unexpectedly to cheer him, we felt the
warmth of his embrace, his wishes for a
good night, his expression of
understanding for our difficulties, but
also that he will be with us more than
ever after today. Many of us had tears
in our eyes. But now we feel there's
new life and new hope in us to face the
future."
The same had
happened in Ephesus. There were but a
few Christians who had arrived from
far-off Anatolia; they felt at home in
Mary's house. Pope Benedict had a
personal word, a handshake and a
blessing for everyone. He listened
carefully to everyone, he noticed
everyone. And they too felt welcomed,
loved and encouraged.
And this morning,
gathering together in the Cathedral of
Istanbul, where there was singing in
Aramaic, Arabic, Turkish, English and
Latin, created a sense of communion
which is already a gift of the bridges
that the Pontiff wanted to build during
this visit to Turkey. At the end, there
was an explosive and long applause, with
a chorus of voices spontaneously
cheering in unison "Long live Benedict!"
Everyone was
surprised by this "new version" of
Ratzinger, who had been so discredited,
before his arrival, by local mass media
and certain extremist fringes. "I did
not expect to find myself in front of a
man who is so humble and reserved, but
also attentive, smiling and serene: his
courage to come him -- despite the many
threats and protests -- gave us courage
as well. The freedom of his gestures
taught also us to not be afraid and to
live our freedom fully," said
whole-heartedly an older Christian man,
distinguished in his tie and jacket, but
whose eyes filled with tears for the
warm, prolonged and strong handshake
given to him by the Pope.
And this is also
the impression of various Muslims: the
Pope's visit, with his gestures of
humility at the Saint Sophia Museum, at
the Blue Mosque, with the Director of
Religious Affairs, with Ergodan and at
the tomb of Ataturk, gave a new image to
the universal leader of Catholics. A
more likeable and friendly one.
No one is asking,
for now, why he did not excuse himself
for his speech at Regensburg. This
seems to have dropped into the
background after he prayed silently in
the mosque, holding his hands together
the way Muslims do. This was a sign for
most people of great respect and esteem.
After three days
in which everything seemed hushed and
suspended, chaotic Istanbul seems to
have reawakened. But deep down
something has changed. |
