Catholic Church in Turkey

Part of a series on the
Catholic Church by country

Africa

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* Somaliland
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Asia

* Afghanistan
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* East Timor
* Hong Kong
* India
* Indonesia
* Japan
* Kazakhstan
* Korea
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Macau
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Taiwan
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkmenistan
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam

Middle East

* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Cyprus
* Georgia
* Abkhazia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Jordan
* Kuwait
* Lebanon
* Palestine
* Oman
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Syria
* Turkey
* United Arab Emirates
* Yemen

Europe

* Albania
* Andorra
* Austria
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Czechia
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* England
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

North America

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Canada
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States

Oceania

* Australia
* Fiji
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

South America

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Ecuador
* Guyana
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Suriname
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Catholicism portal

* v
* t
* e

The Catholic Church in Turkey is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the canonical leadership of the curia in Rome that is submitted to the Pope.

Holy Spirit Cathedral, Istanbul

## Demographics

[edit]

In the 2000s, there are around 25,000 Roman Catholics,[1] constituting 0.05% of the population. The faithful follow the Latin, Byzantine, Armenian and Chaldean Rites. Most Latin Church Catholics are Levantines of mainly Italian or French background, with a few are ethnic Turks, who are usually either converts via marriage to Levantines or other non-Turkish Catholics, or are returnees from Europe who converted there, and who may often be still registered as Muslim by the government. Byzantine, Armenian, and Chaldean rite Catholics are generally members of the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian minority groups respectively. Turkey's Catholics are concentrated in Istanbul.

By 2020, there were approximately 70 priests and 50 nuns serving in 52 parishes;[2] the church also ran 6 hospitals and homes for the old and infirm.

## Persecution

[edit]

The Catholic Christian community was shocked when Father Andrea Santoro, an Italian missionary working in Turkey for 10 years, was shot twice in February 2006 at his church near the Black Sea.[3] He had written a letter to the Pope asking him to visit Turkey.[4] Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey in November 2006.[5] Relations had been rocky since Pope Benedict XVI had stated his opposition to Turkey joining the European Union.[6] Turkey's Council of Catholic Bishops met with the Turkish prime minister in 2004 to discuss restrictions and difficulties such as property issues.[7] On June 6, 2010, Bishop Luigi Padovese, the Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia, was killed.

Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin

## Organization

[edit]

Latin Church jurisdictions in Turkey

* Latin Church:
* Archdiocese of İzmir
* seat in İzmir
* Cathedral: St. John's Cathedral (İzmir)[8]
* Jurisdiction: archdiocese without suffragan dioceses
* Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia
* seat in Iskenderun
* Cathedral: Cathedral of the Annunciation, Iskenderun
* Co-Cathedral: St. Anthony of Padua Co-Cathedral, Mersin
* Jurisdiction: Immediately Subject to the Holy See
* Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul[9]
* seat in Istanbul
* Cathedral: Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul, Basilica minor
* Basilica minor: St. Anthony of Padua Basilica, Istanbul
* Jurisdiction: Immediately subject to the Holy See
* Armenian Catholic Church:
* Archeparchy of Istanbul
* seat in Istanbul
* Cathedral: Holy Mother of God Armenian Cathedral Church, Istanbul
* Jurisdiction: Immediately subject to the Holy See
* Chaldean Catholic Church:
* Archdiocese of Diyarbakır
* seat in Beyoğlu, Istanbul
* Cathedral: St. Mary's Cathedral, Diyarbakır
* Jurisdiction: Immediately subject to the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate of Babylon
* Greek Byzantine Catholic Church:
* Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul
* seat in Istanbul
* Cathedral: Holy Trinity Greek Catholic Cathedral, Istanbul (Ayatriada Rum Katoliki Kilise)[10]
* Jurisdiction: Immediately subject to the Holy See
* Melkite Greek Catholic Church
* Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul[11]
* seat in Istanbul
* Church: Melkite Catholic Church Saint Pantaleon (historical)[12]
* Jurisdiction: Immediately subject to Melkite Patriarch[13]
* Syriac Catholic Church:
* Exarchate of Turkey
* seat in Istanbul
* Cathedral:
* Jurisdiction: Immediately subject to the Syriac Catholic Church

## See also

[edit]

* Christianity in Turkey
* Freedom of religion in Turkey
* Episcopal Conference of Turkey
* List of Saints from Asia
* Religious minorities in Turkey

## References

[edit]

1. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
2. ^ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
3. ^ "Priest's killing shocks Christians in Turkey". Catholic World News. February 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
4. ^ "Priest Slain in Turkey Had Sought Pope Visit". The New York Times. Reuters. February 9, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
5. ^ "Confirmed: Pope to visit Turkey in November". Catholic World News. February 9, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
6. ^ Donovan, Jeffrey (April 20, 2005). "World: New Pope Seen As Maintaining Roman Catholic Doctrinal Continuity". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
7. ^ "Turkey". International Religious Freedom Report 2004. September 15, 2004. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
8. ^ GCatholic.org
9. ^ katolik kilisesi
10. ^ Rumkatkilise.org/
11. ^ Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul (French)
12. ^ Melkite Catholic Church Saint Pantaleon (French)
13. ^ Apostolic Letter "Orientalium Dignitas" on the preservation and protection of Oriental disciplines, Pope Leo XIII, 1894 (Latin)

## External links

[edit]

* The Catholic Church in Turkey by GCatholic.org

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church in Turkey

Episcopal Conference of Turkey

Active
dioceses|

* Latin: Archdiocese of Izmir
* Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia
* Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul
* Armenian: Archeparchy of Istanbul
* Chaldean: Archeparchy of Diarbekir
* Byzantine: Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul (Melkite Church)
* Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul (Greek Church)
* Syriac: Patriarchal Exarchate of Turkey

Cathedrals|

* Latin: St. John's Cathedral, Izmir
* Cathedral of the Annunciation, İskenderun
* Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, Mersin
* Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Istanbul
* Armenian: St. Mary of Sakızağaç Cathedral, Istanbul
* Greek Byzantine: Holy Trinity Greek Catholic Cathedral, Istanbul
* Chaldean: St. Mary's Cathedral, Diyarbakır

Churches|

* Latin: St. Anthony of Padua Basilica, Istanbul
* Saint Paul Church, Adana
* St. Térèse Church, Ankara
* Church of Saint Benoit, Istanbul
* Church of St. Mary Draperis, Istanbul
* Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul
* Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Bornova
* Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Konak
* Saint Polycarp Church, Izmir
* St. Helena Church, Karşıyaka
* House of the Virgin Mary
* Armenian: Surp Yerrortutyun Armenian Catholic Church
* Surp Yerrortutyun Armenian Church

Relations|

* Apostolic Nunciature to Turkey
* Holy See–Turkey relations

Popes from Anatolia|

* Pope John VI
* Pope Conon

See also|

* Polonezköy
* Pangaltı Catholic Cemetery
* Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople
* Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Thrace

* Catholicism portal
* Turkey portal

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church in Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* England
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

Dependencies and
other entities|

* Åland
* Faroe Islands
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Svalbard

* Catholicism portal
* Europe portal

* v
* t
* e

Demographics of Turkey

Topics|

* Turkish people
* Ethnic Kurds
* Minorities
* Languages
* Turkish language
* Religion
* Islam
* Christianity
* Judaism
* Irreligion
* Education
* Health
* Immigration
* Poverty
* Demographics of Istanbul

Census in Turkey|

* 1927
* 1935
* 1965
* 1990
* 2000
* 2010
* 2020

Lists|

* Provinces by population
* Cities and towns by population
* Provinces by life expectancy

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church in Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

* v
* t
* e

Christianity in Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

* v
* t
* e

Frankokratia (1204–1797)

History|

* Fourth Crusade
* Constantinople 1203
* Constantinople 1204
* Partitio Romaniae
* Kountouras Grove
* Treaty of Nymphaeum
* Constantinople 1235
* Genoese occupation of Rhodes
* War of the Euboeote Succession
* Pelagonia
* Constantinople 1260
* Constantinople 1261
* Treaty of Viterbo
* Prinitza
* Makryplagi
* Settepozzi
* Neopatras
* Demetrias
* Revolt of Alexios Kallergis
* Hospitaller conquest of Rhodes
* Halmyros
* Manolada
* Byzantine–Genoese War
* Revolt of Saint Titus
* Echinades
* Rhodes 1444
* Vlastos' conspiracy
* 1st Ottoman–Venetian War
* Rhodes 1480
* 2nd Ottoman–Venetian War
* Rhodes 1522
* 3rd Ottoman–Venetian War
* 4th Ottoman–Venetian War
* 5th Ottoman–Venetian War
* Siege of Candia
* 6th Ottoman–Venetian War
* 7th Ottoman–Venetian War
* Fall of the Republic of Venice
* Treaty of Campo Formio

Major centres|

| Cities|

* Constantinople
* Thessaloniki
* Glarentza
* Patras
* Athens

|

Islands|

* Crete
* Chios
* Lesbos
* Rhodes
* Naxos

States and territories|

* Latin Empire
* Kingdom of Thessalonica
* Principality of Achaea
* Akova
* Arcadia
* Argos and Nauplia
* Bodonitsa
* Chalandritsa
* Estamira
* Geraki
* Gritzena
* Kalavryta
* Karytaina
* Nikli
* Passavant
* Patras
* Veligosti and Damala
* Vostitsa
* Duchy of Athens
* Salona
* Duchy of Neopatras
* County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos
* Lordship of Chios
* Maona of Chios and Phocaea
* Catalan Company
* Navarrese Company
* Hospitaller Rhodes
* Triarchy of Negroponte
* Duchy of the Archipelago
* Stato da Màr of the Republic of Venice
* Crete
* Durazzo
* Ionian Islands
* Modon and Coron
* Kingdom of the Morea
* Lepanto
* Parga
* Preveza
* Kingdom of Albania

People|

* Latin Emperors
* Latin Empresses
* Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople
* Princes of Achaea
* Princesses of Achaea
* Family tree
* Baillis of Achaea
* Archbishops of Patras
* Archbishops of Corinth
* Tocco
* Carlo I
* Acciaioli
* Antonio I
* Angevins
* Charles I of Naples
* Gattilusi
* Pallavicini family
* Villehardouin family
* Geoffrey I
* William II
* Marco I Sanudo
* Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat
* Knights Hospitaller
* Pierre d'Aubusson
* Juan Fernández de Heredia
* Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam
* Foulques de Villaret
* Roger de Flor
* Zaccaria
* Benedetto I
* Martino
* Centurione II

Cultural impact|

* Chronicle of the Morea
* Chronicle of the Tocco
* Assizes of Romania
* Catholic Church in the Middle East
* Latin Church in the Middle East
* Latins
* Catholic Church in Greece
* Cretan school
* Cretan literature
* Heptanese school (painting)
* Cuisine of Greece

Monuments|

| Frankish|

* Argyrokastro Castle
* Chlemoutsi
* Exomvourgo
* Fortifications of Rhodes
* Grand Magne
* Isova
* Old Navarino castle
* Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
* Platamon Castle
* Zaraka Monastery

|

Genoese|

* Castle of Chios
* Castle of Mytilene

Venetian|

* Arkadi Monastery
* Bourtzi Castle
* Frangokastello
* Fortezza of Rethymno
* Fortifications of Chania
* Fortifications of Heraklion
* Gouverneto Monastery
* Koules Fortress
* Toplou Monastery
* New Fortress, Corfu
* Old Fortress, Corfu
* Palamidi

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template