VATICAN

As Marmara Group Foundation, we attached great importance to intercultural dialogue with our civil society identity. This importance we give is very important in terms of peace and service to humanity. Over the years, our work has attracted the attention of the Vatican, just like the rest of the world.

The Vatican, which has shown interest in our intercultural dialogue efforts over the years we have left behind, participated at the Cardinal level for the iftaar of love and peace event that we arranged which held in Istanbul in October 2006. Therefore, as a result of this study in which Cardinal Celata participated, our relations reached it's climax.

On November 9, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI received the Marmara Group Foundation in the Vatican. Acceptance of the Marmara Group Foundation by the Pope in the Vatican, which formed by Dr. Akkan Suver, Porf. Dr. Ilter Turan, Leyla Tavsanoglu and Cafer Okray, was considered a major event within the conditions of that day. Because during their visit to the Vatican, Pope's arriving to Turkey was on agenda. During the visit, Dr. Akkan Suver said to the Pope that "the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation is waiting for you."

The Pope asked a question after hearing Dr. Suver's briefing: "I want to learn something from you. What would Turkish people like in common?"

Dr. Akkan Suver said without hesitation, "If you visit Atatürk in Mausoleum, the Turkish nation will be very happy."

At the end of the meeting, the Pope sent the following meaningful message to the Turkish nation through Dr. Suver: "Take my greetings to Ataturk's Turkey". Then the Pope arrived in Turkey, he went Atatürk's Mausoleum and visited Ataturk. The Pope's visit to Atatürk was watched by billions of people around the world through television.

16th Pope Benedict during his visit to Turkey accepted Dr. Akkan Suver and Müjgan Suver. Then, in 2011, Pope Benedictus received the Marmara Group Foundation Committee consisting of Dr. Akkan Suver, Dr. Fatih Saraçoğlu, Necdet Timur and Aykut Eken for the third time.

The Pope did not see the Marmara Group Foundation as a bridge of dialogue between Islam, Christianity and Islam, on the contrary, he also appreciates Marmara Group Foundation for the highest cultural studies in the survival of the riches including the decreasing values such as Chaldeanism and Assyrianism and declared our delegation that He is the follower of our efforts in keeping these cultures alive.

In the meantime, as the Marmara Group Foundation, we would like to point out with our civil society identity that two important clergymen have a special place in our relations. We would like to mention the deceased Monsignor George Marovitch and Monsignor Yusuf Sag as an appreciation. The Marmara Group Foundation is grateful to the late Monsignor George Marovitch and Monsignor Yusuf Sag for their high and sincere efforts in civil society relations with the Vatican.