On the morning of Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the newly appointed papal nuncio to Sweden, Archbishop Julio Murat, requested an audience with Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, who offered his guest a heartfelt welcome.
The nuncio is fluent in Greek, having been born in Smyrna, the same city from which Metropolitan Cleopas’ family hails, on the side of his late father.
Initially, the esteemed visitor was offered a tour of the St. George Cathedral of Stockholm, where he was informed of the church’s history and its recent restoration, clearly demonstrating his admiration for this remarkable monument.
Afterward, he was taken to the Museum of Hellenic Christian Heritage, where he met with Metropolitan Cleopas for over an hour, with the latter conveying the congratulations of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the assumption of his new duties and his successful accomplishments up until today. The Metropolitan also asked him to pass on his wishes for a speedy recovery to the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, following his recent hospitalization.
The two prelates also discussed ecclesiastical issues, and current affairs taking place worldwide, while also jointly expressing their hope that the Theological School in Halki will re-open soon.
At the conclusion of their meeting, Metropolitan Cleopas offered his guest a copy of his two-volume study entitled Saint Nectarios Kefalas, Metropolitan of Pentapolis, along with his work A Handbook of Pastoral Correspondence, together with the Holy Metropolis’ trilingual publication of the Divine Liturgy in Greek, Swedish, and English, a commemorative album chronicling the Patriarchal visit to Stockholm, and local pasties ahead of the imminent feast of Pasch/Easter, for which both prelates exchanged their best wishes.
