Greek Prelate Thanks Pope For Visit

ATHENS, May 7, 01 (CWNews.com) - Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, who once made no secret of his opposition to a papal visit, has now thanked Pope John Paul for coming to Greece, the Vatican has revealed.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters that the Greek Orthodox primate had sent a personal message to the Pope, thanking him for his visit, and assuring the Pontiff that he would remember him in his prayers as he continued his pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul.

"May our Savior Jesus Christ strengthen our will and our efforts toward mutual understanding," Archbishop Christodoulos added.

In an interesting turn of events, the Greek archbishop left Athens shortly after the Pope's departure, for his own trip to Moscow to visit with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksei II. That trip-- which had been arranged well before the papal visit to Greece-will bring together two of the Orthodox leaders who have been most outspoken in their opposition to the ecumenical efforts of Pope John Paul II.

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
7. mai 2001