MEETING BETWEEN THE POPE AND THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH AT THE SUMMER RESIDENCE OF THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM

On the afternoon of Monday the 13^th/26^th of May 2014, a meeting took place on the Mount of Olives between His Holiness Pope Francis and His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. The meeting, held at the latter’s summer residence on the Mount of Olives, commemorated the 1964 encounter between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras with Patriarch Benedict of Jerusalem.

At the meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch was accompanied by His Metropolitans, and Pope Francis by His cardinals. Accompanying the Patriarch of Jerusalem were the Patriarchal Commissioner, Archbishop Isychios of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Archdeacon Evlogios.

The Pope was received at Little Galilee by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and was guided through the forecourt of the Church of Viri Galilaei to His Beatitude’s summer residence, where they were both welcomed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Commissioner and the Elder Secretary-General.

At the residence, the two Heads of Churches were briefly left alone for a private conversation, before Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem offered each an icon of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher with a personal dedication.

The Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarch of Jerusalem went on to introduce their Prelates to the Pope, with the Pope reciprocating by introducing His own retinue. Silver pectoral crosses were subsequently offered by the Pope to the Heads of Constantinople and Jerusalem and their retinues.

The three Primates then went outside in the forecourt and blessed friends of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as other guests.

This marked the conclusion of the meeting on the Mount of Olives between the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

From the Secretariat-General