Blessed John XXIII, "Friend of the Turks"

Pope’s Benedict XVI visit to Turkey  will continue a papal tradition with this country.  His predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II visited Turkey in 1967 and 1979 respectively, but John XXIII was especially attached to Turkey during his years as Apostolic Delegate.  Also, Benedict XV, who in his efforts to end the First World War  was recognized as the Pope of Peace, has a monument honoring him in front of the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul.

When John Paul II beatified John XXIII, the city government of Istanbul wanted to name an important city street after him, Roncalli Street.  They published a pamphlet in three languages, where they call the Pope, "Friend of the Turks". 

Angelo Roncalli arrived in the Bosphorus for the first time in January of 1935.  Previously he had been the Apostolic Visitor in Bulgaria in 1925.  Since his appointment as the Apostolic Delegate in Turkey in 1934, he remained there until 1945.  Fifty years later, during the celebration of Roncalli week, the Turkish minister of foreign affairs Ihsan Sabri Caglayangil, referred to him as "an authentic friend of the Turks,  whom he loved and appreciated." 

Already in 1936 the Pope Roncalli said he felt "a deep affection for this people, to whom the Lord has sent me."  During his spiritual exercises in 1939 he wrote "I love the Turks."

Also after his election as Pontiff, he maintained the same attitude and feeling toward the Turks, that was corresponded by the government of Turkey.  His writings as the Apostolic Visitor in Istanbul ended with the good wishes for the Turkish people.  The President at that time Celal Bayar visited him on June 11, 1959.  In 1960 Turkey celebrated the 25th anniversary of his arrival with many commemorative events, that led General Refik Tulga to affirm that Pope Roncalli was the first Turkish Pope in history." 

In a subsequent Roncalli week, he was also honored by the Jewish community, due to his aid during the time of the Nazis that saved the lives of many Jews who escaped from Hungary and Romania to Turkey passing through Bulgaria.  Franz Von Pappen declared during the judgment of Nüremberg, that Mons. Roncalli saved 24,000 Jews. 

The Ecumenical Patriarch Athenágoras attributed him the words of the gospel "there was a man sent by God.  His name was John." 

After his beatification, multitudes of Turks organized a series of feasts from the 8th to the 10th of December to honor the newly beatified, the highlight of the week was renaming Olcek street to Pope Roncalli Street.  The minister of religious affairs Istemihan Talay said that, "the Turkish people, have a great sense of friendship, and will never forget Roncalli".