The Standing Synod by Archbishop Hieronymus announced the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis would be making a joint visit to refugee hotspots in Greece on April 14 or 15. The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Athens & Greece, Hieronymus made the visit of the two heads of the oldest Christian denominations public Tuesday. The historic meeting is expected to happen in mid April, possibly on the 14th or 15th, on the island of Lesvos in an effort to send a global message of awareness on the refugee crisis. Hieronymus will also take part in the visit to refugee hotspot on the island of Lesvos, with the symbolic gesture expected to draw global media attention.
The visit was organised in response to Pope Frances’s request to come to Greece and see up close the refugee camps. The Greek Church approved the Pope’s request to visit an Aegean island, as long as it was a short symbolic trip. According to some unverified sources, the Pope intends to walk from the beach into the Aegean Sea waters fully robed as symbolic gesture. The three Church leaders are expected to issue a joint statement with a message of global humanity and solidarity.
Fraternal ties
According to the ANA-MPA correspondent in Rome, news of the intended visit was leaked by sources in the Vatican, who also indicated that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew may travel to Lesvos and pointed to the very close, fraternal ties between the two primates.
The Pope has repeatedly brought attention to the refugee issue in recent weeks, appealing to all relevant institutions to assume due responsibility. He also visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, and called for an end to the loss of human lives as people tried to reach Europe in order to escape war and extreme poverty.
According to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, the visit also hopes to mobilise the international community’s efforts for an immediate ceasefire in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece briefed the Synod regarding the Pope’s request and the Synod accepted the proposed visit, suggesting that it take place on Lesvos.
The last visit by a Pope to Greece was that by Pope John-Paul II in the year 2000.
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