Spiritual Presidency of the Latin Catholic Church in Istanbul
CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BASILICA

Latin Catholic Parish Church for the North of Istanbul

Diocesan Fathers until 1989,

From October 8, 1989 Founded by St. John Bosko

Administered by the Fathers of the Salesian Order.

1846 Bishop Mons. BUILT IN HONOR OF THE HOLY SPIRIT by Bishop Julien Hillereau

1865 Bishop Mons. COMPLETELY RESTORED AFTER THE FIRE by P. Brunoni

1875 Bishop Mons. A. Grasselli

1889 The Vatican in Rome is attached to the Basilica of St. PETRUS

1909 SMALL BASILICA DECLARED

1921 UNVEILING OF THE STATUE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI, "BENEFACTOR OF HUMANITY"

1934-1944 TENURE OF PAPAL NUNCIO MONS. ANGELO G. RONCALLI (ST. JOHN 23)

1967 VISIT OF POPE PAVLUS VI WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH ATHENAGORAS

1979 VISIT OF HIS MAJESTY POPE JEAN PAUL II WITH HIS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH DIMİTRİOS

2006 VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI TOGETHER WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

2014 VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS WITH HIS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

Built in the Roman style, the cathedral celebrated its centenary in 1946 and was the shepherd house of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the saintly Pope John XXIII, before he was elected Pope in Rome. A painting of St. John XXIII on the left side of the church was painted in his honor in 2000, and in the same year the road at the back of the church was named after the saintly Pope.

Our cathedral is the center of Catholic life in our city, and it is the seat of the Latin tradition and the pulpit of the religious leader of Catholics.

Four popes have visited our cathedral. You can see the commemorative inscriptions commemorating these visits hanging at the entrance of the church.

In the lower part of the cathedral there is a historic and monumental burial place, where the most important people buried are the founding Archbishop of the cathedral, Mons. Julien Hillereau, the founding Archbishop of the cathedral, Donizetti Pasha, who founded the first national band in the Ottoman Empire, and Faik Pasha, the Sultan's Pharmacist.

The painting in the center of the Cathedral was painted in 1867 and was a gift from Pope Pius IX. It symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit and was so named at the consecration of the Cathedral on July 5, 1846.

Saint Esprit Cathedral - A Hundred Years of History [1]

Image at the top of the original article. The front of Saint Esprit Cathedral. The cathedral was consecrated and opened its doors on July 5, 1846. It is currently the seat of the Latin Catholic Spiritual Presidency of Istanbul.

Passing through Taksim Square, beautified by the sculpture by Canonica, people walk along the wide boulevard and reach the Saint Esprit Cathedral. When this cathedral was built, settlements used to end there. Here one could see greenery, Armenian and Greek cemeteries, the Surp Agop Hospital, the small huts in Haribye and the Artigana retirement home founded in 1839. Jean-Baptiste Pancaldi, an innkeeper from Bologna, settled in this quiet area and made money from the hunters and nature enthusiasts who frequented his inn. He undoubtedly gave his name to Pangalti, which today is a very large suburb.

Anticipating the growth of the city in this desert-like area, Monsignor Hillereau buys a large plot of land to build a church here. This land would become the site of the Church of Saint Esprit

The year was 1846. It is worth remembering this date because it was in this year that our Basilica-Cathedral was founded and it was in this year that the secular priests (priests who did not belong to a particular order, but were attached to the local bishop) were able to organize themselves. Until this year, the secular priests were either temporary visitors, in the service of the Vicar for the Holy See, or in the service of foreign embassies and important families as chaplains or tutors.

In 1782, Monsignor Fracchia of Genoa bought the Church of Saint Georges in Galata from the Capuchin friars and made it the first church and cathedral of his vicariate. However, since the parishioners preferred Pera to Galata, his successor, Monsignor J.B. Fonton of the Franciscan Order of the Minor Conventuals, became Apostolic Vicar (Vicaire Apostolique) and in 1799 moved his office to the Church of Sainte Trinité (Holy Trinity), which he purchased from the Austrians in 1802, and in 1857 it was dedicated for use by Armenian Catholics.

Neither Saint Georges nor Sainte Trinité was a parish church.

Monsignor Fonton was succeeded by his assistant, Monsignor Vincent Coressi. When Monsignor died, he was succeeded by his own assistant, Monsignor Hillereau. Mons. Hillereau was the founder of the cathedral.

On July 5, 1846, on the 5th Sunday after Pentecost Sunday, the bells of Saint Esprit Church called the faithful to the consecration (and inauguration) of the church. The French Ambassador, Monsieur de Bourquenay, also attended this ceremony. The day after its inauguration, the church was elevated to a parish church. The area of responsibility of this church was almost the same as it is today, except that when Monsignor Sardi elevated Notre-Dame de Lourdes to parish church in 1910, the area of responsibility of Saint Esprit Church changed slightly.

A little over a year later, the Church of Saint Esprit had 213 families and 949 faithful. Jacques Barozzi, the church's first vicar, was a gifted preacher, a doctorate in law (civil and canon law), a theologian and a respected linguist.

At the request of Monsignor Hillereau, Pope Gregorio XVI sent the bones of the martyr St. Crispino to the inhabitants of the city. These relics were ceremoniously placed under the altar of "Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows" in the cathedral.

When Pope Pius IX ascended the throne of St. Peter, Monsignor Hillereau was still in charge of the Vicariate. Sultan Abdülmecid sent an envoy to Pope Pius IX and congratulated him on his new appointment. The Pope in turn commissioned Monsignor Ferrieri, Archbishop of Sida, to convey his thanks and gifts to the Sultan.

A year before his death from cholera in 1855, Monsignor Hillereau built the church known as "Holy Name of Jesus" or "St. John of the Golden Horn" (Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan, Saint Jean Chrysostome). His body rests in his tomb under the Saint-Esprit Cathedral.

Monsignor Mussabini, Archbishop of Smyrna, was appointed as Papal Nuncio (Pro-Vicaire Apostolique), but he wanted to leave his post in order to appoint himself to his diocese and was confronted with a request from the Order of the Sisters of Sion to open an institution. Father Théodore Ratisbonne requested to open a boarding school in the building that had served as the bishop's residence, and when it was opened, he placed the Filles de la Charité nuns there (today's Notre Dame de Sion French High School). In 1857, the Sisters of the Filles de la Charité decided to leave the boarding school and the Soeurs de Sion took over its administration.

In 1858, Monsignor Paul Brunoni, the Vicar Apostolic in Syria (Vicaire Apostolique), was appointed to serve in the same capacity in Istanbul. Ten years later he received the title of Papal Delegate (Delegué Apostolique). Monsignor Brunoni's episcopate was full of difficulties. This may have been due to weaknesses resulting from his excessive goodness. During his reign, the beautiful church in Kadikoy was built and in 1864, on the Feast of the Immaculée Conception (the Immaculate Conception of Mary without Original Sin), the Church of Saint Esprit was completely engulfed by fire. Mons. Brunoni could hardly find the money to rebuild the church, and then he could not find workers. Mons. Brunoni's episcopal years, the cholera that plagued the city restricted his work. Finally, on December 31, 1865, the church was rebuilt and Mons. Brunoni, wearing his religious vestments, consecrated the church again on this date, with the participation of the congregation. In the last twenty years the number of parishioners had doubled.

Monsignor Brunoni, Patriarch of Antioch and Honorary Member of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, was replaced by the Dutch Clercs déchaussés de la T. S. Croix et de la Passion de N.S. J.C. to Monsignor Joseph Pluym of the Order.

A great disaster awaited the new Papal Nuncio. On June 5, 1870, at about 2:00 p.m., a fire broke out in Valideçeşme and within five hours engulfed the suburbs of Beyoğlu. At that moment, Monsignor Pluym was in Saint Esprit's Church, reciting the evening prayers of the eve of the Feast of Pentecost. He was informed that the Church of Saint Jean Chrysostôme and the house where he was staying were in danger of fire. The Aga Mosque had been reduced to ashes and the Church of Saint Jean Chrysostôme had also succumbed to the fire. Sacred objects, the vestments of the priests and the bishop, and the most precious church objects were reduced to ashes. Nothing remained of the bishop's residence and his library full of important books. The death toll was close to a thousand. In addition to state and municipal aid, Rome also offered its help. Mons. Pluym distributed what he had to those in need. Fourteen Fille de Charité (Daughters of Charity) nuns mobilized to help the victims of the disaster.

To Monsignor Pluym we owe the parish school for girls (Notre Dame de Sion), run by the Sisters of Sion, and the parish school for boys, run by the Frères des écoles chrétiennes (friars of Christian schools). The boys' school is well known, but lost its importance when the school in Taksim opened. This parochial school for boys was closed between 1914 and 1919, during the First World War, reopening in 1919 and closing completely in 1940. Monsignor Pluym fulfilled his episcopate with great difficulty. The schism of the opponents of Hassoun over his episcopate[2] and the economic hardship, especially after the fire, had created great difficulties.

Monsignor Pluym died on January 12, 1874 and was buried next to Monsignor Hillereau in the cemetery under Saint Esprit Cathedral.

Towards the end of 1874, Monsignor Antonio Maria Grasselli, a Franciscan of the Frères Mineurs Conventuels, succeeded Monsignor Pluym. In a ceremony attended by the French Ambassador M. Bourgoing, Mons. Grasselli consecrated the central altar, which was commissioned by the sculptor Poirson by Antoine Galibert, then Abbot of Saint Esprit Church, and which can still be seen today. Grasselli. On this altar table are the relics of St. Lino, successor of St. Peter, Pope and martyr of religion; the relics of St. Laurent the Martyr; the relics of St. Sebastiano the Martyr, commander of Emperor Diocleziano's protection battalion; and the relics of St. Crispino the Martyr. The Church of Saint Esprit was elevated to the level of a Cathedral on January 20, 1876.

Soon after, the Archpriest of the Cathedral, Galibert, was appointed Bishop of Santorini. Those who laid hands on and consecrated him to the episcopate were Monsignor Grasselli, Monsignor Hassoun and Monsignor Marengo, Archbishop of Athens. Father Dacus was appointed Abbot of the Cathedral. Father Dacus was a very well-known person and his memory is alive even today. He wrote the history of the cathedral for many years and here we present the interesting details of the hundred-year history of the Latin Catholic Church of Istanbul.

In 1880 Monsignor Grasselli was called to Rome. Admired for his knowledge and kindness, some objected to this bishop leaving the city. Accompanied by his own carriage, some fifty cars followed him to Tophane, where he boarded the French Embassy's sultan's boat and boarded a passenger ship converted from an old Austrian yacht.

His successor, Monsignor Vincent Vanutelli, did not stay in office for very long. A brilliant diplomat, he was appointed Vatican Ambassador to Brazil two and a half years after his arrival. However, the impact of some of the things he did during his short tenure lasted for a very long time: The elevation of the churches in Kandilli and Vaniköy to parish churches and the assignment of diocesan priests, the definitive elimination of the problems created by the anti-Hassouns, and the opening of the Saint Louis boys' school, which later became a seminary.

If you look at the ceiling of the basilica you will see how similar it is to the Roman churches. Here you see the coat of arms of the Papacy, the coat of arms of De Propaganda Fide, the coat of arms of the Vicariate and the coats of arms of the founders of the church, Monsignor Hillereau and Monsignor Brunoni. We owe this decoration to Monsignor Louis Rotelli, who succeeded Monsignor Vautelli in 1883. These decorations were made in 1884 and according to the archives I consulted, they cost twenty Turkish Lira! At the same time, Dacus, the parish priest, was hard at work decorating the church. The most important work done during Monsignor Rotelli's reign was the construction of the chapel of St. John Chrysostome and the return of the relics of this saint from Rome in 1884, the perfection of the organs, the consecration and opening of the church in Prinkipo and the establishment of the Sympnia Greek Catholic school.

Papal Legates (Délégués Apostoliques) came and went. In 1887, Monsignor Rotelli was appointed Vatican Ambassador to Paris. Rome appointed Monsignor Auguste Bonetti as his successor. Mons. Bonetti was a Lazarist and the abbot of the Lazarists in Thessaloniki. Known for being a very righteous man, he is not forgotten. He equipped Saint Esprit with new organs at a cost of 15,000 francs and made a large contribution from his personal wealth. I am one of the people who remember this great inauguration of the organ, at which your esteemed and dear friend, Father André, the abbot of the Jesuits, made a speech. It was during the time of Monsignor Bonetti that the Salesian fathers settled here and it was also during the time of the same monsignor that the monastery of prayer called "Carmel" was opened. Here God is loved in silence and God is loved by souls who are able to go beyond the mystery of humanity.

On many occasions there were special ceremonies and communion with the Holy Spirit: Pope Leon XIII's jubilee on the 25th anniversary of his accession, the ringing of the bells of all the churches for half an hour each at ten o'clock in the morning, at noon and at the Angelus in the evening, the election of Pope Pio XIV. Monsignor Borgomanero, vicar general of the Vicariate, succeeded the deceased Monsignor Testa. The Sultan also gave Monsignor Borgomanero a mission and asked him to convey his congratulations to His Holiness the newly elected Pope and his satisfaction with the Turkish Catholics.

On March 31, 1900, Monsignor Dacus passed away, bringing his long career to an end. In his will he left nothing to the poor except 284 books. He loved his Church and, in order not to be separated from it, he refused the post of vicar general offered to him by Monsignor Bonetti. Father Ammiragli was appointed his successor (archpriest of the cathedral) and the bells of the cathedral rang for him.

A little more than four years after Monsignor Dacus, Mons. Bonetti was called to receive his reward in eternal life. For three days the body of the shepherd of the Dioceses was on display and priests, diplomats and parishioners paid their last respects to him. In his will he had not forgotten the cathedral, nor the poor in Thessaloniki, nor the poor here, nor the poor and charitable organizations, nor the nuns of the Petites-Soeurs des Pauvres, for whom he had a special respect. The funeral turned into a show of respect and affection. All the authorities were there; all the diplomats were there; there was no religious leader missing, not even a non-Catholic. The French sailors were also there and paid their respects, showing their devotion to him. The clergy of other rites came and did the same.

Seven months passed before the arrival of Monsignor Jean Tacci Porcelli and the new bishop arrived at the beginning of 1905. This Papal Representative epitomized calm and mildness. One day I saw with my own eyes the touching letter that this bishop wrote to a parish priest who wanted to resign in haste. When the priest received the bishop's letter, he withdrew his resignation. How could one oppose such a great benefactor?

Monsignor Tacci presided over the ceremonies marking 1500 years since the death of St. John Christostome. In 1908 he was appointed Vatican Ambassador to Brussels. He was unable to realize his projects for the diocese.

On June 28, 1908, Monsignor Vincent Sardi arrived as the new bishop and Papal Nuncio. During his time there were major reforms. Monsignor Sardi was enthusiastic, energetic, active and disciplined. He was also a leading Latinist. I am pleased to remember this shepherd, a little rough on the outside, because for him duty came first. But inside he was understanding and fatherly. I would not be wrong to dedicate this article to his memory.

During the reign of Monsignor Sardi, Monsignor Roch Collaro became the archpriest of the cathedral. Mons. Collaro subsequently became synod superintendent, special assistant to His Holiness the Pope and chaplain in his household; later he became Apostolic Nuncio and Vicar Apostolic.

Monsignor Sardi's work included a decree on the organization of religious ceremonies; the preparation by a commission of texts in French for the religious education of the diocese; the weekly publication of the "Bulletin of the Holy See"; and the renewal of hymnody. He increased the number of priests, had Rome recognize the Cathedral of Saint Esprit as a "Minor Basilica", and established a board of priests.

On January 11, 1913, flames engulfed the inner scaffolding supporting the bell tower. Both the bells in the tower and the clock fell. The renovation work and changes made after this accident gave the cathedral the appearance it has today. Wooden seats were built next to the altar table, oak benches were built in the church and electrical wiring was installed.

Many changes have taken place in those times. Mons. Braggiotti died, Mons. Guillois was consecrated as a priest, Mons. Borgomanero was replaced by Mons. Pompilj.

Monsignor Sardi was still here when Pope Pio XIV died, but soon after he too left. The "Bulletin of the Pontifical Vicariate" published his beautiful farewell letter and three months later Monsignor Ange Marie Dolci was appointed Pontifical Vicar Bishop.

Meanwhile, the ceremonies for the election of Pope Benedict XVI were conducted by Mons. Pompilj presided.

Monsignor Dolci was a diplomat by character. He arrived here to the sound of cannons echoing across Europe. The war had begun. He did everything in his power to fulfill the Holy Father's desire to alleviate fears: he began to distribute food, he was close to everyone's pain, he sent gifts to Turkish soldiers, regardless of their origin and religion, he made attempts to release political prisoners and to make sure that the relatives of prisoners heard from them. That is why it is so impressive that everyone, even those who do not belong to the Catholic faith, have responded with joy to the idea of erecting a statue of His Holiness the Pope, who has done so much good for humanity.

But the war was over. It was necessary to thank God for such a long-awaited peace. On June 5, 1922, after the recently concluded International Eucharistic Congress in Rome (May 25, 1922), with the permission of the civil authorities, a magnificent procession was held in conjunction with the Eucharist, which was attended by tens of thousands of Catholics, who received the Blessed Sacrament first in the open air and then in the Cathedral.

Among these great memories we must not forget the rebuilding of the bell tower. Monsignor Dolci consecrated the new bells on January 14, 1922. Mons. Pompilj was replaced by Mons. Cesarano. Mons. Pompilj went to Smyrna as Papal administrator and died there. The consecration of the Bishop of Chios (Chios), Mons. Nicolas Carichiopoulo, Bishop of Chios (Chios).

Monsignor Dolci stayed here for almost nine years, a record. It is not surprising that he was sent from here as Vatican Ambassador to Romania. His successor, Monsignor Ernest Filippi, came and went. A year after Monsignor Dolci's departure, Monsignor Ange Rotta arrived as Papal Nuncio. Monsignor Angelo Rotta was the Archbishop of Athens, Mons. Filippucci, Archbishop of Athens. The other consecrating bishops with him at this ceremony were Mons. Roncalli and Mons. Nazliyan, Administrator of the Armenian Catholics and Patriarchates. Nazliyan. The passage in front of the church, the iron gates leading to the main street and the stone stairs were designed by the Registrar, Mons. Guillois, the Registrar, designed them. Mons. Guillois was appointed Vatican Ambassador to Hungary after presiding at the Masses for the jubilee of Pope Pio 11.

Monsignor Charles Margotti, Mons. Rotta's successor. His personality is so rare today that it is precious enough to be kept in museums. He is a model of simplicity and goodness. Monsignor Margotti was both very simple and a great gentleman. Like his predecessors, he brought something to the building. We owe him some canons, especially those concerning the life of the Church. For these laws he convened a synod. He also consecrated the Bishop of Manfredonia, Mons. Cesarano, the Bishop of Manfredonia.

Monsignor Margotti left in 1935 and was replaced by Monsignor Ange Roncalli, a fatherly shepherd and good Samaritan. Highly cultured, kind, loving, warm-hearted and intelligent, Mons. Roncalli was a true priest in spirit. With his extraordinary kindness and love, he attracted all hearts, comforted the most unfortunate people during the Second World War, and suffered pain, sorrow and hardship. He prayed incessantly for our country to be spared from this scourge and even made a public vow to have a silver statue of St. Antuan of Padua made. He would have fulfilled this wish if the circumstances had been favorable, he said so himself before he left for Paris, but he has been in Paris as the Vatican Ambassador for two years.

If we talk about Monsignor Roncalli's successor, Monsignor Alcide Marina, I have to inform you that very shortly he will go to Beirut as Vatican Ambassador. This is the situation today. This is not yet history. After me, a century from now, someone else will write the history of the cathedral for its second century in this "Flambeau" magazine - in this little publication that our Catholics need and in which the history of the Latin Catholic Vicariate of Constantinople finds its place. With this little magazine, Monsignor Marina has left us more than a superficial memory: souls leave marks as lasting as they are good, as high as they are humble, and as strong as their faith.

Moreover, those who cooperate with God always succeed. As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, on the foundation of Christ Jesus, one has built one building, another will build another. May the building of the Church of Constantinople be a building of gold and precious stones, may everyone's work shine in the light of eternal happiness, and may shepherds, pastors and believers be rewarded. May these pages, written with a humble pen, reflect their work for a century to come, and may their memory live on, at least for a little while, for the glory of God.

1. LAZIAN

[1] This article was written by J. Lazian and published in the June 1947 issue of "Le Flambeau" for the 100th anniversary of the consecration and inauguration of Saint Esprit Cathedral.

[2] Andon Hasun (1809, Constantinople - 1884, Rome) was elected Archbishop of Constantinople for Armenian Catholics and Archbishop of the Ottoman Empire in 1842. Contrary to the tradition of the Armenian and Eastern Churches, his election was not attended by representatives of the people. This led to great discontent. Hasun tended to follow the laws, customs and traditions of the Latin Church. This attitude led to great debates and conflicts. The Andonian priests of Ortaköy in Istanbul and the Mıhitarian priests of Venice were openly against this attitude. Some of the Andonian friars, led by Father Maghakya Ormanian, who later became Patriarch, became affiliated with the Kumkapı Patriarchate, and the order was finally closed down by the Vatican. The Venetian priests, on the other hand, remained silent. In 1867, Hasun united the Armenian Catholic spiritual Patriarchate in Bzommar, Lebanon, which had been established by Pope Benedict XVI in 1742, with the Ottoman Archdiocese in Constantinople. Andon IX. thus became Patriarch of all Armenian Catholics under the name Bedros IX and with the approval of Pope Pius IX. Intra-communal tensions were growing, many Armenian Catholics were uniting with the Kumpkapi Patriarchate. Therefore, in 1880, Pope Leo XIII, elected in 1878, with a new approach to Eastern Christianity and especially Eastern Catholics, summoned Andon Bedros Hasun to Rome, elevating him to the rank of Cardinal. Hasun's successor, Stepanos X Bedros Azarian, with the support of the new Pope, was able to bring peace back to the community by avoiding excessive Latinism. However, by this time, according to some estimates, the number of Armenian Catholics had halved (Footnote: S.E. Mons. Levon Boghos Zekian).