Vatican Reaction To Invitation To Pope To Visit Greece

VATICAN, Mar. 8, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Holy See has responded with satisfaction to the news that the Greek Orthodox Church has cleared the way for a visit by Pope John Paul II to Greece.

"The dates for a trip by John Paul II to Greece are still uncertain," said papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. But the Vatican official indicated that the Pope's visit would be a step in "the pilgrimage that will also take the Pope to Syria and Malta." Plans are already in place for a papal trip to Syria in May.

"This is a historic moment for the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, because for the first time a Pope is visiting a Hellenic land," said Archbishop Paul Fouad Tabet, the papal nuncio in Athens. Speaking on Vatican Radio, the nuncio added: "This is the choice of the Orthodox Holy Synod in favor of ecumenism and Christian unity." He stressed that the decision by the Orthodox body was made possible by the fact that the papal visit would "have the character of a pilgrimage, and a purely spiritual significance."

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church, which on Wednesday announced that the Pope would be welcome in Greece, revealed that the decision to accept a papal visit had been unanimous. The Synod called upon the faithful of the Orthodox Church to "have confidence in your hierarchy," and greet the Pope's visit "with affability, serenity, and a calm spirit." The Synod added that the Orthodox bishops are discussing how, "in accordance with our sacred laws and traditions," the Orthodox Church can participate in the events associated with the Pope's trip.

The decision by the Holy Synod represents a distinct change in the public attitudes of the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. In September 1999, the same body rejected the prospect of a papal visit, explaining that the decision was a reaction against "the imperial tendencies shown by the Pope toward other Christians," and the Vatican's alleged strategy of aggressive proselytism in traditionally Orthodox lands. In 1981, the Holy Synod had said that the Pope should not be allowed to "contaminate Greek soil" by his presence.

In light of such rejections, Archbishop Nikolaos Foscolos had told the Pope, in October 1999, that there was little likelihood he could travel to Greece. "We will hope against hope," he said at that time. As recently as November of last year, Archbishop Foscolos had said that there would be "many difficulties" standing in the way of a papal visit.

Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
8. mars 2001