Pope Francis met with the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II in Athens and recognised “with shame” that the Catholic Church failed to provide assistance to the Orthodox Church during the Greek struggle for independence in 1821, while immigration was at the centre of the two men’s discussion, while they both agreed that more systematic dialogue was needed between the Orthodox and Catholics.

Archbishop of Athens told the Pope that his approach was a modest and dynamic leader of the Roman Catholic Church, “we consider that at this historical juncture that you recognise the failure of your Fathers to aid the Greek people in their struggle for freedom”.
The Pope retorted: “With shame – I recognise that the Catholic Church – actions and choices, which have little or nothing to do with Jesus and the Gospel, probably coming from the thirst for profit and power, withered the fellowship between us”.

Pope Francis is paying a visit to Greece from today, following an invitation from the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

“History has its own weight and today here I feel the need to renew the apology from God and from the brothers for the mistakes made by so many Catholics”, the Pope characteristically underlined. Moreover, his reference to the Holy Spirit was impressive, which, as he stressed, “calls us today more than in the past to heal the wounds of humanity with the oil of love.”

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