U.S. Military Catholic Archbishop Visits Incirlik

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nick Plante
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The leader of America's largest Catholic community recently visited Incirlik Air Base.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Military Services USA, Timothy D. Broglio, spent four days visiting Incirlik and other parts of Turkey during an extended tour in Europe and the Pacific. The Archbishop oversees a diocese with an estimated 1.5 million parishioners, who serve in or are assigned to the U.S. military.

He is currently in the final stages of a trip that has taken him to many of the military installations located in Europe and Asia.

"My visit is a pastoral visit to confirm the faithful in their faith and also to listen to them and learn how things are going," said Archbishop Broglio. "It is also a way to get acquainted to the community as I'm relatively new to this ministry."

The archbishop was named the fourth Archbishop of the Military Services USA, Nov. 19, 2007 and was installed Jan. 25, 2008. Since his time as archbishop he said he has been impressed by the positive attitudes, the appreciation and commitment of the service members and their families.

"Archbishop Broglio's visit is not only important from a pastoral perspective, but also offers a unique experience to our members, especially to the young people, who have never experienced the church outside of the military chapel," said Chaplain (Capt.) David Kruse, 39th Air Base Wing Chapel.

The archbishop celebrated Mass Monday evening where he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation for six individuals and met with parishioners and base leadership during other parts of his visit.

"The military chapel is an important part in the lives of many families assigned to military installations across the world, and on behalf of the 39th Air Base Wing it was a pleasure to host Archbishop Broglio at Incirlik," said Col. Lawrence Gray, 39th Air Base Wing vice commander.

Archbishop Broglio said he has three principle goals while serving in his current position: to increase the number of priests serving as active-duty chaplains, to improve and to facilitate the faith of the Armed Forces Catholics and their families and to provide a sound financial basis on which to operate the archdiocese.

Although Archbishop Broglio had no personal experience in the Armed Service his father and brother both served as physicians. His father served in World War II and his brother later served in Germany.

"Spending both Christmas in Korea and Easter in Iraq were marvelous experiences of the faith of people," said the archbishop. "I found people who are extremely generous in serving their faith community and people who are extremely appreciative in the smallest of things."

The archbishop expressed his thanks to all of the military community.

"I appreciate all the military does for our country and also for the strength of the Catholic communities that I have visited in these months," said Archbishop Broglio. "It's a tribute to people's faith."