News (English)

The Holy Father has appointed H. E. Mons. Lorenzo Piretto, O.P. Arcbishop Emeritus of Izmir and Apostolic Administrator of the same circumscription, as Apostolic Administrator the vacant seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul and of the Exarchate for the faithful of Byzantine rite residing in Turkey.

H.E. Monsignor Ruben TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ OFM

 

    S.E. Mons. Rubén TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ, OFM, was born in Cortazar, in the Diocese of    Celaya (Mexico), on August 24, 1952, to Julio TIERRABLANCA and Maria GONZALEZ.

    After attending the Franciscan Pío Mariano Seminary for secondary education in his native land, he entered the novitiate on August 22, 1970.

    He studied at the College Santa Cruz in Queretaro (Mexico) and at the Saint Anthony Seminary in El Paso, TX (USA) for philosophy and theology. Subsequently, in Italy, he attended the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

    He made his religious profession in the Order of Friars Minor on 2 August 1977, and received priestly ordination on 29 June 1978 in his hometown of Cortazar.

     S.E. Mons. Rubén TIERRABLANCA GONZALEZ, OFM, ordained as Guardian (Superior) of the Friars Minor of Istanbul and of the International Fraternity for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue in Turkey, and parish priest of the Parish of Santa Maria Draperís  in Istanbul in 2003. He commissioned as Vicar Apostolic of the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul in 2014; he was serving as the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey since 2018.

       Monsignor Ruben hospitalized due to the Covid-19 disease. He passed away last night 22.12.2020 at 11.42 pm due to multi-organ failure due to Covid-19.

 

 

Dearly beloved,

Pope Francis is granting all the faithful of the world the possibility of obtaining an indulgence while staying at home on 12 December on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Coronation of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
On this occasion, I want to invite you to pray for our Bishop Ruben.
I suggest that you pray for him tomorrow, 12/12 at 12 noon so that we can have a communion in prayer in the Vicariate that Bishop Ruben desires.
Let us pray to the Lord Jesus that, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, He may grant Bishop Ruben the grace of good health.
You can use the attached poster to invite others to pray.

Peace and Good
Br Pawel Szymala OFMCap, vic.del.

Resignation and appointment of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Izmir (Turkey)

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir (Turkey), presented by His Excellency Mons. Lorenzo Piretto, OP.

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Metropolitan of İzmir the
Reverend Father Martin KMETEC OFM Conv.,
Currently Superior of the Community of Conventuals of Büyükdere, Istanbul.

Curriculum vitae

S.E. Msgr.Martin Kmetec O.F.M. Conv. Was born on November 10, 1956, in Ptuj, Slovenia. He completed his institutional studies of Theology and Philosophy in his religious Province in Slovenia, in which he made his simple profession on September 25, 1977, and the solemn profession on October 4, 1982. He obtained a Doctorate in Theology, with a specialization in Dialogue and Religions in the University of Ljubliana. In addition to Slovenian, he speaks Turkish, French and Italian. He was ordained as a priest on June 29, 1983. He has held various positions in his Order: Rector of the minor seminary, Missionary in Lebanon, Superior of various Convents. He was also Vicar Custos of the East and the Holy Land of the Friars Minor Conventual from 2014 to 2018. From 2011 to 2020 he was in the Convent of St. Mary in Büyükdere, Istanbul, but in the role of Superior only from 2018.

[01515 -IT.01]

https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/speeches-statements/558/118111/president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-s-message-on-passover

At the same time elevating him to the titular see of Nasai, with the dignity of archbishop.

The Holy Father has appointed the Most Reverend Luís Miguel Muñoz Cárdaba, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio to Sudan and Eritrea, at the same time elevating him to the titular see of Nasai, with the dignity of archbishop.

We rejoice in the Lord for this happy news that honors our Church in Turkey. We express our sincere wish to our dear friend and brother, Archbishop Luis-Miguel for everything would be fine for him pledge of our prayers for him that the Lord always accompanies him in his delicate ministry where the countries he would be sent.

Press.vatican.va

“The Church in Turkey is a school of hope”. Bishop Rubén Tierrablanca Gonzalez is Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul and participates to the meeting of the bishops and patriarchs of the Mediterranean area in Bari (Italy) with the awareness of those who know that an international event of this magnitude is a real gift: “It is a unique opportunity of confrontation between us bishops and the problems of the whole Mediterranean area. By listening to each other we can understand and help each other”. On the day in which the themes of migration, wars and poverty were the bench, Monsignor Tierrablanca Gonzalez wanted to emphasize that reality also shows positive perspectives such as those of his church.

https://www.vaticannews.va/it/chiesa/news/2020-02/papa-francesco-visita-pastorale-bari-italia-incontro-chiesa.html

Listen to the interview with bishop mons. Tierrablanca Gonzalez (Italian):

https://media.vaticannews.va/media/audio/s1/2020/02/21/19/135492354_F135492354.mp3