Turkish street named after Pope John XXIII

A street in Istanbul has been named after Pope John XXIII, in recognition of his work in Turkey when he was Apostolic Nuncio to the country from 1935 to 1945.

A series of ceremonies were held to inaugurate the new street last week.

Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, attended the celebrations. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, state secretary, also took part, bringing a message from Pope John Paul II in which he praised Pope John's "tireless defence of the cause peace" and said he worked very hard "to heal, discreetly but effectively, the evil of war, the sadness of the exiles and the injustices of the persecution.

"In Turkey he left many friends and the memory of a man of peace and of fraternity."