'Things will change!' – Turkish girls hopeful after Pope's visit

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 30, 2014 / 13:47 pm

Pope Francis' visit to Turkey may change the traction Christians have in a country that is almost entirely Muslim, said two Turkish young women who had the occasion to greet the Pope on his recent trip.

Baram, a 25-year-old woman with a degree in French Literature, told CNA that "there is a group of people here in Turkey that does not understand Christianity, or simply they are not interested in Christianity."

However, she said, "the fact that Pope Francis came, and spoke with the leaders, and provided examples, is such an important thing," and in fact, it may "change the perception of the Church."
 
"Thing will change! Of course they will. Even if just one small group of people is caught up in these ideas, then this small group will speak with others, and this larger group will influence other people… this is how things change, this is how things happen," Baram said.
 
Her words were echoed by those of Isabel, age 23.

"I did not expect that the Pope would come this year, because of the tricky political situation… but he came, and it seems there will be a collaboration among Catholics and Orthodox, and all of the other religions, since Turkey is a Muslim country," Isabel reflected, saying that "the arrival of Pope Francis, his being so human, may foster new things."

Pope Francis traveled to Turkey for a three-day trip at the end of November.

His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, had also visited the country, making a trip there in 2006.

Isabel said that Benedict's visit – like all papal visits – brought joy and peace, but "things did not change a lot" because true change requires action by the people.
 
Both Baram and Isabel took part in the Nov. 29 Papal Mass at Istanbul's Holy Spirit Cathedral.
 
Baram, a member of the Neocatechumenal Way, went with her group to welcome the Pope in front of the Hagia Sophia Museum.
 
"When we determined that the Pope was coming, we prepared banners and flags to welcome him, and then we went very early to Hagia Sophia, singing for him and waiting for him. And then he arrived, and he was right in front of me…it was a moment I cannot explain," she said.
 
Baram attended the Nov. 29 Mass from the balcony, while Isabel was seated among the crowd within the Church.
 
"I was just along the path where the Pope passed, and I had the occasion to kiss his hand when he came and when he went away," Isabel recounted.

Her uncle Ilyia was waiting for the Pope at the entrance of the church, and he was able to have a long moment with the Pope.
 
Isabel recounted that "the Pope stopped with him and his family, they took pictures and the Pope blessed my little cousin."

She also reflected on the difficulties of living in a country that is majority Muslim.
 
"Sometimes, I think that if we had lived in France, Italy, Spain, it would have been less difficult being Christian. It is not that I feel alone, but we are such a small minority here," she said.