Following a long-standing tradition, a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is in Rome this week to help build unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
By Vatican News staff reporter
The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity released a statement on Monday to announce the visit of an official delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to Rome on 28-30 June.
The visit comes as part of the “traditional exchange of delegations for the respective feasts of the Patron Saints: 29 June in Rome for the celebration of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and 30 November in Istanbul for the celebration of St. Andrew the Apostle”.
The Orthodox delegation is led by Archbishop Job of Telmissos, who is accompanied by Bishop Adrianos of Halicarnassus and Patriarchal Deacon Barnabas Grigoriadis.
Archbishop Job is the co-chair of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.
The delegation will attend the Mass presided over by Pope Francis on Wednesday, 29 June, to mark the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and will meet with the Pope on Thursday, 30 June.
During their three days in Rome, the delegation will also hold conversations with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
