The trip of the Prefect of the Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) to Istanbul opened on Friday, June 20, with the Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of Turkey.
In addition to presenting his own Dicastery and explaining its mission to accompany particular churches in integral human development everywhere, Card. Czerny gave a speech in which he stressed the important link between the Eucharist and integral human development, calling the former “a dynamic source that continually founds and renews service to the dignity of the human person, promotes justice and generates peace.”
This was followed by a visit to the Don Bosco Learning Centre, where for more than 20 years the Salesians have offered special education programs for both young refugees and young adults who find the local language an obstacle to integration. In addition to the primary English language focus, the center offers sports and dance activities intended to help young people connect with their peers. The Prefect of DPIHD gifted the children present in the center the Jubilee pencils, kindly offered by the official store.
In the Bomonti Rest Home, the Little Sisters of the Poor have, for 123 years, been a living testimony of charity and service to the elderly in need. Upon arriving here, Card. Czerny spoke with the 6 sisters who serve and the 62 residents, including one woman - an Armenian Catholic - who, upon receiving the cardinal's blessing, thanked him with joy and gratitude.
After visiting Nicaea, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the first ecumenical council in Christian history, on the Sunday of the Feast of Corpus Christi, Card. Michael Czerny presided at Holy Mass at the community of Polonezkoy, close to Istanbul. Concelebrating with him were Bishop Maximilian Palinuro and H.E. Archbishop Marek Solczyński, Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey, and numerous priests.
Celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi in Polonezkoy is a tradition for Catholics in Turkey. In fact, more than 500 Catholics from different backgrounds, including many migrants and refugees, were present for the occasion. In his homily, the Prefect of DPIHD reminded the faithful gathered there that “life remains abundant not when we preserve and defend it, but when we are willing to offer it, to hand it over to others, in freedom.”
