March 20, 2013. (Romereports.com) The main leader of the
Orthodox Church, Bartholomew I, said he hopes they can
meet in Jerusalem this year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the famous hug between their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis met with another Christian leader, the
Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I.
¨You must be very tired¨
Not really. At least not yet.
The main leader of the Orthodox Church said he hopes they can meet in Jerusalem this year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the famous hug between their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.
About one thousand years ago, the Orthodox Patriarch and the Pope didn´t speak to each other. They had excommunicated one another respectively. But eventually the reconciliation process began and it still continues to this day.
The leader of the Orthodox Church gave the Pope a small icon and Pope Francis gave him a cross.
¨It's small ...
It´s beautiful because it´s a cross and because
it´s a gift from you."
The Pope also met with a representative of Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Then Metropolitan Hilarion gave him an icon of Our Lady of Humility.
"Pray for me, so that I may have humility."
With these visits, Pope Francis begins his dialogue with other Christian denominations.
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