Roman Catholicism in Turkey

The Roman Catholic Church in Turkey is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. There are only around 35,000 Catholics, constituting 0.05% of the population, in this traditionally Islamic country. The faithful follow the Latin, Byzantine, Armenian and Chaldean Rite. The Catholic community was shocked when Father Andrea Santoro, an Italian missionary working in Turkey for 10 years, was shot twice at his church near the Black Sea. [cite web | author=| date= February 6, 2006| title= Priest's killing shocks Christians in Turkey | format=| work=Catholic World News | url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=42255 | accessdate=2006-06-26] He had written a letter to the Pope asking him to visit Turkey. [cite web | author=| date= February 9, 2006| title=Priest Slain in Turkey Had Sought Pope Visit | format=| work=Reuters | url=http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/international/europe/09vatican.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26nQ3DTopQ252fReferenceQ252fTimesQ2520TopicsQ252fOrganizationsQ252fRQ252fRomanQ2520CatholicQ2520ChurchQ2520&OP=789afff8Q2FQ3DQ2AdUQ3DcN_PQ27NNibQ3Db77(Q3D7bQ3D7TQ3DQ24aidQ27auiQ24NauxQ3DdSQ27NQ3FdQ3D7TQ5DuiQ24_ua2Q7CiQ51x | accessdate=2006-06-26] Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey in November 2006. [cite web | author=| date= February 9, 2006| title= Confirmed: Pope to visit Turkey in November | format=| work=Catholic World News | url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=42328 | accessdate=2006-06-26] Relations had been rocky since Pope Benedict XVI had stated his opposition to Turkey joining the European Union. [cite web | author=Donovan, Jeffrey | date= April 20, 2005| title= World: New Pope Seen As Maintaining Roman Catholic Doctrinal Continuity | format=| work=Radio Free Europe | url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/04/b1b15b4e-bf68-4fc8-bd03-c6552f9d067a.html | accessdate=2006-06-26] The Council of Catholic Bishops met with the Turkish prime minister in 2004 to discuss restrictions and difficulties such as property issues. [cite web | author=| date= September 15, 2004| title=Turkey | format=| work=International Religious Freedom Report 2004| url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35489.htm | accessdate=2006-06-26]

tructure

* Latin rite:
**Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Izmir
***seat in Izmir
***Cathedral: St. John's Cathedral, Izmir
***Jurisdiction: metropolitan archdiocese without suffragan dioceses

**Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia
***seat in Iskenderun
***Cathedral: Cathedral of the Annunciation, Iskenderun
***Co-Cathedral: St. Anthony's of Padua Co-Cathedral, Mersin, Mesrin
***Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Holy See

**Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul
***seat in Istanbul
***Cathedral: Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul, Basilica minor
***Basilica minor: St. Anthony of Padua Basilica, Istanbul, Istanbul
***Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Holy See

* Armenian rite:
**Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Cilicia
***seat in Beirut
***Cathedral: St. Elie and St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Cathedral, Beirut, Beirut
***Jurisdiction: metropolitan archdiocese

**Armenian Catholic Archdiocese of Istanbul
***seat in Istanbul
***Cathedral: Holy Mother of God Armenian Cathedral Church, Istanbul
***Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Holy See

* Byzantine Rite:
**Greek Byzantine Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul
***seat in Istanbul
***Cathedral:
***Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Holy See

* Syrian Rite:
**Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Turkey
***seat in Istanbul
***Cathedral:
***Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Syriac Catholic Church

* Chaldean Rite:
**Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Diarbekir
***seat in Beyoglu, Istanbul
***Cathedral:
***Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Holy See

References

External links

* [http://www.gcatholic.com/dioceses/data/countryTR.htm The Catholic Church in Turkey] by Giga-Catholic Information