Pope Francis speaks on Christian Unity with Georgia's Patriarch

Pope Francis walks with Georgian Orthodox Patriarch

The Pope spoke of the love of Christ as the foundation of Christian unity at a meeting today with the Orthodox Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.

Addressing him as "Dear Brother," the Pope spoke of the ties between the Church in Georgia, founded on the preaching of St Andrew, and that of Rome, founded by his brother, St Peter.

He said, "Truly, the love of the Lord raises us up because it enables us to rise above the misunderstandings of the past, above the calculations of the present and fears for the future."

The Georgian people had witnessed to "the greatness of this love" through the centuries, said Pope Francis, who praised their "unique hospitality", and "true hope" even though they face "no shortage of difficulties".

The Pope recalled Patriarch Ilia's visit to Rome in 1980, the first visit ever of a Georgian Patriarch to the Vatican, and Pope St John Paul II's visit to Georgia on the eve of the Jubilee Year of 2000.

In conclusion, the Holy Father alluded to the "courageous heroes" of Georgia's history, "who like St George, knew how to defeat evil."