The initiation of the shepherd service of Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro, who was consecrated as the Bishop of Istanbul, on Tuesday, December 7, in Ariano Irpino, in the Campania region of Italy, was held on Saturday, December 18, at the Istanbul Holy Spirit Cathedral.
At the ceremony, Father Nicola Masedu, Rector of the Cathedral, presented the new Bishop a cross as a reminder of his relationship with the dying and suffering Christ for his flock, as a sign of respect. Then, Monsignor Massimiliano, blessed himself with holy water and then all the participants as an indication of the mystery of baptism, which symbolizes the fundamental bond he shares with them, in company with the Retired Archbishop of Izmir and subsequently Istanbul Apostolic Administrator Monsignor Lorenzo Piretto, Archbishop of Izmir Monsignor Martin Kmetec, Anatolian Bishop Monsignor Paolo Bizzeti, Vatican City’s First Undersecretary of the Turkish Embassy Monsignor Walter Erbi, Ariano Irpino from Italy – Bishop of Lacedonia Monsignor Sergio Melillo and Bishop of Naples Monsignor Michele Autuoro, Archbishop Monsignor Levon Zekiyan, Head of the Armenian Catholic Apostolic of Turkey, Archbishop of the Chaldeans of Turkey, Monsignor Garmoigneur and Turkey Assyrian Catholic bishop Monsignor Orhan Çanlı.
Then, Monsignor Massimiliano greeted, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Official, Istanbul Governorship International Relations Representative, France’s Ambassador to Turkey Hervé Magro, the United States Embassy in Turkey Official, the United States’ Consul General in Istanbul Daria Darnell, the German Consul General in Istanbul Johannes Regenbrecht, Istanbul Polish Consul General Dariusz Gumieniczek, Istanbul Italian Consul Irène Pastorino Olmi, and the Mayor of San Nicola Baronia, where the local church in Italy is located, for which he was the father for eleven years.
Then, after briefly kneeling in reverence in the Eucharist Chapel, he wore the robes of the Holy Eucharist.
The Holy Mass began with the introductory hymn and procession. In his welcome speech, Archbishop Monsignor Lorenzo, as the Apostolic Ruler, first greeted the clergy who had attended the ceremony. In particular he greeted: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of the Armenians of Turkey Sahak II, Ancient Syriac Metropolitan of Istanbul-Ankara Monsignor Yusuf Cetin, Chairman of the Board of Catholic Bishops Monsignor Martin Kmetec, retired Bishop of Istanbul Monsignor Louis Pelâtre, representatives from the Chief Rabbinate of Turkey and the Office of the Mufti of Istanbul, In addition to 2 Bishops from Italy, 16 priests, delegations consist of seculars and priests from where Bishop Massimiliano worked for many years in Izmir and Trabzon, priests from Ankara and of course from all over Istanbul, nuns, heads of Christian communities and its members. Then, after greeting the administrative officials and diplomats, he happily welcomed Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro.
He reminded that a year ago, on December 22, the Latin Catholic Spiritual Chief of Istanbul, Monsignor Rubén Tierrablanca, died due to the Coronavirus, and Giuseppe Roncalli, as the Apostle’s deputy, lived in this house for 10 years. He later became Pope as 23rd John in 1958.
The floor was then given to Monsignor Walter Erbil, who reminded the the appointment of the new Bishop of Istanbul, announced by Pope Francis on 14 September, as the Representative of the Vatican Embassy in Turkey.
Father Lucian Abalintoaiei showed the Apostolic Letter to everyone in the church and it was read by Father Nicola Masedu, Rector of the Holy Spirit Cathedral.
After the Apostolic Letter was read, the new Bishop was invited by Monsignor Lorenzo to sit in his cathedra, his seat. “Cathedra” is a sign of the bishop’s teaching and pastoral service in a particular Church. Monsignor Piretto as Apostolic Ruler then presented and delivered the shepherding staff to the new Bishop. Because of its ancient crook (it was first widely used from the sixth century), it stands above the other bishop’s insignia and symbolizes its main duties as knowing and caring, leadership and guidance, guarding the flock, and correcting faults.
Monsignor Massimiliano, accompanied by appropriate hymns, was greeted by representatives of diocesan priests, clergy, nuns, other devotees and also believers. This gesture is an expression of the respect and obedience that the people of God must show to the chief shepherd of the episcopate.
The celebration of the Holy Eucharist continued as usual, presided over by the new Bishop. In his sermon, on the other hand, he said: “When we carry God in our hearts, we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering and lamentation of our brothers. True faith moves us towards love and service. It is inevitable that a belief that does not contain human love easily turns into a dangerous ideology. However, if we carry God in our hearts, He encourages us to go beyond our assumed certainties and to set out for other people, and He himself becomes every person’s companion…
Our small Catholic community in Istanbul is called upon to follow in the footsteps of Mary and set out to be the companions of the sufferers… Our congregation does not want to be in the spotlight. It is not after a show that does not belong to it. It does not seek earthly honors. Like Mary, we desire nothing more than to contribute to the joy and salvation of every human being.
Not long ago, Pope Francis urged Catholic communities in the Middle East to be like yeast. Although we are small in numbers – like a yeast – we have the possibility of making an important contribution to the construction of a peaceful and solidarist society as witnesses of concrete love.
My dear brothers and sisters, we must walk together, encouraged by the urgency of love. The Istanbul Catholic Community has a wealth of many spiritual gifts and fruitful efforts. As a continuation of the generous work of my esteemed predecessors, the late Monsignor Antoine Marovitch and the late Monsignor Ruben Tierrablanca, and before him, dear Monsignor Louis Pelâtre, we wish to put all our strength into the service of this precious Istanbul and our fellow citizens living here.”
After his sermon was over, he wanted to give special thanks to the Greek and Armenian Patriarchs, the Syriac Metropolitan, the Chief Rabbi of the Turkish Jewish Community, the Lutheran and Protestant Churches who were present at the ceremony.
Before the ceremony was over, the patriarch Sahak II and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew briefly took the floor both to express the joy of this initiation and to affirm their willingness to work together for the good of all.
The Cathedral choir led by Iosif Robu, High Priest of the Church of Saint Anthony, and the organ played by P. Simon Harting, beautifully enlivened this very special ceremony. At the end of the service, all the participants one after another congratulated the new Bishop and posed for pictures. A treat package was given to everyone due to the pandemic. (SAT-7 TURK/Nathalie Ritzmann)
