Pope Francis begins visit to Cyprus and Greece

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Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis is due to leave Rome this morning for a five-day visit to to Cyprus and Greece. The trip includes a busy schedule of meetings with local authorities, Church leaders, liturgical celebrations and ecumenical encounters. The Pope will also return to Greece's Lesbos island to visit with migrants.

Yesterday afternoon Pope Francis made a brief visit to the Basilica of St Mary Major, to pray before the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani, entrusting his Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece to Our Lady's protection.

In a video message to Cypriots and Greeks ahead of the visit, the Holy Father said that he comes: "in the footsteps of the first great missionaries," St Paul and St Barnabas, to draw on "the wellsprings of fraternity" from the Orthodox churches. He said he is also coming "to drink from the ancient wellsprings of Europe: Cyprus, the outpost of the Holy Land on the continent; Greece, the home of classical culture."

"Europe cannot ignore the Mediterranean Sea that hosted the spread of the Gospel and the development of great civilizations" and "embraces many peoples." This sea, "urges us to sail together, and not to split up by going our separate ways," especially in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and people "fleeing from war and poverty, landing on the shores of the continent or elsewhere, and finding not hospitality but hostility and even exploitation." Many of these migrants and refugees die in the sea that has become "a great cemetery."

"They are our brothers and sisters," the Pope said.

He concluded: "I come as a pilgrim to the wellsprings of humanity. I will go to Lesbos again, in the conviction that the sources of common life will only flourish again in fraternity and integration: together."

Pope Francis is due to arrive at Larnaca International Airport at 3pm today where there will be the official welcome. At 4pm he will meet with priests, consecrated persons, deacons, catechists, and members of Church associations present in Cyprus at the Maronite Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace. Later the welcome ceremony will take place at the Presidential Palace of Nicosia, followed by a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic and a meeting with local authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.

On Friday morning, the Pope will make a courtesy visit to His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus at the Orthodox Archbishopric of Cyprus in Nicosia, followed by a meeting with the Holy Synod at the Orthodox Cathedral in Nicosia. Later in the morning he will preside over a Mass at the 'GSP Stadium' in Nicosia. In the afternoon he will hold an Ecumenical Prayer with Migrants at the Parish Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia.

On Saturday morning the Pope leaves Cyprus and heads to Athens, Greece. The official welcome at Athens International Airport will be followed by a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Athens. He will make a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic, meet with the Prime Minister, and then with local authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps. The busy afternoon meetings include a courtesy visit to His Beatitude Hieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, at the Orthodox Archbishopric of Greece in Athens, followed by a meeting of both leaders with their respective entourages in the Throne Room of the Orthodox Archbishopric. Later that day he will meet with the local Church community's bishops, priests, religious, consecrated persons, seminarians, and catechists at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens. Ending the evening, he will meet privately with members of the Society of Jesus at the Apostolic Nunciature in Athens.

On Sunday morning the Pope will travel to the Greek Island of Lesbos to visit with refugees at the 'Reception and Identification Centre' in Mytilene town. He returns to Athens in the afternoon where he will preside over a Mass at Megaron Concert Hall. In the evening he will welcome the courtesy visit of His Beatitude Hieronymous II at the Apostolic Nunciature in Athens.

Finally, on Monday morning, 6 December, Pope Francis will welcome the President of the Parliament at the Apostolic Nunciature in Athens. He will later meet with young people at Saint Dionysius School run by the Ursuline Sisters in Maroussi, Athens. After that, he heads to Athens International Airport for the farewell ceremony and his return flight to Rome.