Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece met this morning with a distinguished delegation of Roman Catholic clergy and university professors from Trani, Italy. The delegation, led by Mons. Leonardo D’Ascenzo, Archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, was received at the Holy Archdiocese of Athens during their visit to Greece.
In his address, Archbishop Ieronymos expressed his heartfelt joy and gratitude for the visit. He recounted his own experiences visiting Italy as an educator and his admiration for its historical monuments and vibrant culture. The Archbishop also reminisced about his meeting with Pope Francis during his visit to Athens, highlighting the strong connections between the Greek church and the Roman Catholic community. He spoke of the Greek church’s “Apostoliki Diakonia” programs and the students who come to Athens each summer to learn Greek.
Mons. Leonardo D’Ascenzo, on behalf of the delegation, thanked the Archbishop for the warm reception, describing the meeting as a “valuable gift” that they would cherish. He noted that their visit was inspired by their patron saint, Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim from Steiri in Boeotia, Greece. Mons. D’Ascenzo emphasized their pilgrimage’s purpose to explore and learn from Greek traditions, expressing their shared values of hospitality and welcome. He mentioned their visits to Steiri, where Saint Nicholas was born, and to other significant locations in Boeotia, including Saint Luke and Distomo.
The meeting was attended by Protopresbyter Emmanuel Papamikroulis, Secretary of the Synodal Committee on Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Christian Relations.
Photos: Christos Bonis / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
