I eagerly long to meet you all: Pope about his visit to Greece and Cyprus

Pope Francis. Photo: orthodoxtimes.com

On the eve of his visit to Cyprus and Greece, Pope Francis said that he was looking forward to meeting his “brothers" – the primates of the Greek and Cypriot Orthodox Churches. The epistle of the head of the Roman Catholic Church was published by Orthodox Times.

The Pope called the trip a pilgrimage to the ancient roots of the apostolic faith and fraternity, associating it with a global “synodal journey” of the Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to meetings with Catholics, on this path "there is also a meeting; I would call it ‘a synodal grace’, an apostolic fraternity that I wish with great respect: it is the visit to you, dear Chrysostomos and Ieronymos, Heads of the Orthodox Churches of Cyprus and Greece," the pontiff stressed.

Earlier, the head of the Vatican has repeatedly stated about the striving of Catholics for unity and "visible communion" with Orthodox brothers. The head of Phanar, Patriarch Bartholomew, also voiced mutual aspirations.

The current visit of the Pope to Greece and Cyprus will last from 2 to 6 December. During this time, the Pope intends to meet with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus and members of the Synod of the Church of Cyprus, and twice with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens.

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