Pope invited to the north

THE HEAD of the Turkish Cypriot ‘Religious Affairs Department’ Dr. Yusuf Suicmez said yesterday his office had invited Pope Benedict to visit the occupied areas during his visit to the island next weekend.

Suicmez said he had not yet received an answer to his invitation.

According to reports from the north, Suicmez said that if the Pope visited the occupied areas it would be a good opportunity to send a message in support of peace. He added that religious leaders had the ability to send a message supporting a lasting peace in Cyprus.

The ‘Religious Affairs Department’ head said the Pope would be staying at the Catholic Church which was near the buffer zone. With that in mind, he said it would be easy for the Pope to meet officials from the occupied areas in the buffer zone. He also said he did not know whether the so-called president or so-called foreign minister of the occupied areas has asked for a meeting with the Pope and said he had already asked to meet with the occupied areas’ ‘leadership’ to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile an official website has been set up with information regarding the Pope’s visit. Information such as the Pope’s programme, events while he’s in Cyprus, a selection of hymns and prayers as well as where to purchase official papal visit merchandise and souvenir items is available at http://www.papalvisit.org.cy. Souvenirs include t-shirts for adults and children, mugs, caps and key rings. The website also includes a biography of the Pope, facts about Cyprus including the country’s language and religion, entry requirements, transportation and weather and climate, and a list of 14 FAQs. These include questions such as “which events are ‘open to’ the public? How can one attend any of the ‘open’ events?” and “Where and when can one get an entrance pass?”. A call centre number is also available for additional information regarding the Pontiff’s visit on 22313108.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.