Greece–Holy See relations

Greece–Holy See relations of diplomatic character were established in 1980. The Holy See immediately set up its Apostolic Nunciature to Greece in Athens. The Greek ambassador to the Holy See resided at first in Paris, where he was concurrently accredited to France; however, in 1988 a separate Greek embassy to the Holy See, situated in Rome, was set up.

In May 2001, Pope John Paul II made a visit of pilgrimage to Greece.^[1]

History

The East-West Schism divided medieval Christendom into Orthodox Christian and Western Roman Catholic. Relations between East and West had long been embittered by political and ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes.^[2]

Ecumenical relations

Relations with Greece are largely related to ecumenical relations with the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. In 2007 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople gave his approval to the Declaration of Ravenna, a Catholic–Orthodox document concerning the Protos, although future discussions are to be held on the concrete ecclesiological exercise of papal primacy.^[3]

Migrant crisis

On 2016, Pope Francis made a well-publicized visit to the Greek island of Lesvos to meet migrants and refugees. Lesvos was the home for many migrants and refugees who have fled war and violence in the Middle East and North Africa.^[4]

In December 2021, during a two-day visit to Greece, Pope Francis returned to Lesvos and in an address to asylum seekers on the island, he castigated European countries for allowing the Mediterranean to become a “desolate sea of death”.^[5]

Fragments of the Parthenon

In May 2023, Pope Francis returned 3 fragments of the Parthenon to Greece, a decision described as 'heroic' by the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni. ^[6]

References

^ "Almanac". United Press International. Retrieved 2009-05-07. In 2001, Pope John Paul II flew to Greece to begin a journey retracing the steps of the Apostle Paul through historic lands. ...^{[dead link]}
^ Cross, F. L., ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press.
^ Divided in Ravenna, Russian and Estonian Orthodox to talk
^ "Pope visits Greek island of Lesbos, takes 3 families back to Vatican". cnn.
^ "Pope castigates Europe over migration crisis during return to Lesbos". the Guardian. 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
^ Smith, Helena (2023-03-25). "Pope Francis returns three fragments of Parthenon to Greece". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-22.

External links

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[1] "Almanac". United Press International. Retrieved 2009-05-07. In 2001, Pope John Paul II flew to Greece to begin a journey retracing the steps of the Apostle Paul through historic lands. ...^{[dead link]}

[Cross-2] Cross, F. L., ed. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press.

[3] Divided in Ravenna, Russian and Estonian Orthodox to talk

[4] "Pope visits Greek island of Lesbos, takes 3 families back to Vatican". cnn.

[5] "Pope castigates Europe over migration crisis during return to Lesbos". the Guardian. 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-06.

[6] Smith, Helena (2023-03-25). "Pope Francis returns three fragments of Parthenon to Greece". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-22.

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