The 11th Anniversary of the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis was celebrated on February 28, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cathedral Church of Saint Esprit, with a Divine Liturgy presided by Monsignor Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican Secretary of State. Vatican Ambassador to Turkey Mons. Marek Solczyński was also present. The Holy Mass was celebrated by Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir Mons. Martin Kmetec, Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir, Archbishop of Catholic Armenians of Turkey Kerabaydzar Levon Boğos Zekiyan, Archbishop of Chaldeans of Turkey Monsignor Sabri Anar, Mons. Ramzi Garmou, Auxiliary Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia Mons. Antuan Ilgıt, Auxiliary Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, Mons. Orhan Çanlı, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Patriarch Sahag Mashalyan II of the Armenians of Turkey, along with priests, nuns and the Catholic community in Istanbul.
The Mass began with a speech by Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro, Latin Catholic Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul. Monsignor Massimiliano
"Members of the Catholic community of all ranks in Istanbul and throughout Turkey offer joyful thanksgiving to the Lord on the occasion of His Holiness Pope Francis' eleventh year in the Chair of St. Peter," he began. He recalled the wars, pandemic and other challenges that marked his tenure. Mons. Palinuro said, "We praise and glorify the Lord for giving us Pope Francis as Pope. We ask Him to grant His Holiness a long life and good health so that he may continue to guide the universal Church in order to fulfill fully the Lord's will."
His Excellency Mons. Paul Gallagher began his homily by thanking the religious and civil authorities who participated in the liturgy
"Ten years ago in this cathedral, Pope Francis said in his homily: "The Church and other Churches and ecclesial communities are called to allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit and to be always open, docile and obedient. It is he who will bring harmony to the Church" (Apostolic Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Turkey - Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, November 29, 2014). In the current international conjuncture, no less challenging, in the international context of what the Pope has long described as a piecemeal third world war, we are primarily called to be true Christians, led by the Holy Spirit, resisting the temptation to resist Him. We know that the Holy Spirit is disrupting our plans and schemes and moving the Church forward. Because the Church is unity in diversity.
To Mary, Mother of Hope, I entrust you all and your journey towards Easter. May Mary, who followed her Son to the foot of the Cross, help us all, together with Pope Francis, to be faithful disciples of the One who "came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many". Amen. "
At the end of the service, the Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey Mons. Sahag Mashalyan delivered a speech dedicated to the meaning of the day.
