Interreligious dialogue in Türkiye, meeting with Monsignor Bizzeti

A meeting on the topic of interreligious dialogue with an exceptional speaker. The diocesan meeting with Monsignor Paolo Bizzeti, since August 2015 apostolic vicar of Anatolia and titular bishop of Tabe, is scheduled for Wednesday 8 May in the Episcopal House, at 9 pm. The prelate is originally from Florence, where he was born on 22 September 1947, and trained in the Society of Jesus. On 21 June 1975 he was ordained a priest and on 12 June 1982 he made his solemn profession. Monsignor Bizzeti was, among other things, superior of the “BA Baldinucci” Residentia in Florence from 1988 to 1995; director of the “Villa San Giuseppe” spirituality center in Bologna from 1995 to 2007; director of the course of spiritual exercises for the bishops of Emilia-Romagna in 2007; consultant of the province of Italy and delegate of the provincial father for youth ministry from 2003 to 2007; rector of the philosophical scholasticate of the Aloisianum of Padua from 2007 to 2013 and rector of the Patavina Residentia Antonianum and director of the Antonianum Center for the formation of the laity of Padua from 2007 to 2015. He is a specialist in Middle Eastern issues: he founded the Amici Association of the Middle East Onlus, the community of Maranàtha families, the Tavola Pellegrini Middle East. He is a pastor of Catholic Christians throughout the Asian part of Turkey, an area he knows very well and to which he has dedicated some publications, in particular “Turkey: a guide for Christians” and “Turkey. Biblical, patristic, archaeological and tourist guide”, both for Edizioni Dehoniane. The people of Lodi who recently participated in the pilgrimage to Turkey with Bishop Maurizio were supposed to meet the apostolic vicar of Anatolia, but the occasion was canceled due to technical issues. Monsignor Bizzeti met Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, a Jesuit like him, involved in interreligious dialogue and with the Islamic world, who disappeared in Syria where he was involved in negotiations for the release of hostages. The meetings between the two took place during Monsignor Bizzeti’s visits to the Syriac Catholic monastic community “Al-Khalil” of Deir Mar Musa al-Abashi, north of Damascus. «Turkey hosts Christians of different denominations, expresses the richness of a plural Christianity which can be considered an example of how unity can be built in diversity thanks to serene relationships and bonds of solidarity», underlined Monsignor Bizzeti, who on Thursday morning at Scaglioni (9.45 am) he will also preach the diocesan retreat of the clergy.