On Bright Tuesday, the 22nd of April 2025, the customary Easter visits among the Christian Communities took place.
At 8:00 a.m. that day, the Patriarchate received the visit of the Brotherhood of the Franciscans of the Roman Catholic Church. At 10:00 a.m., Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine and the Fathers of the Holy Sepulchre received all the Christian Communities together — the Lutheran Church, the Syrian, the Coptic, and others — except the representatives of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the representative of the Vatican in Jerusalem, who were absent due to mourning following the passing of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis.
Subsequently, visits were made to the Franciscans, the Copts, and the Syrians to exchange Easter greetings.
In the exchanged addresses, emphasis was placed on the multifaceted personality of the late leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the difficulties faced by the faithful of the Christian Communities on Holy Saturday during their entrance into the Church of the Resurrection, and the need for cooperation among the Christian Churches in supporting the Christian residents of the Middle East in the spirit of the Cross and the Resurrection of the Lord.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
