The Vatican officially celebrates the apostles and saints Peter and Paul, patron saints of the Eternal City. Pope Francis presided over the service in the St. Peter’s Basilica, referring to the current role of the clergy and the faithful and their relationship with Jesus.
Furthermore, Francis said:
“We must bring the Lord everywhere, with joy and humility. In our city, in our families, in human relations and neighbourhoods, in civil society, in politics, in the world, especially where there is poverty, degradation and discrimination. The world today needs real people, such as the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter.”
Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were present
As every year, during today’s feast, a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, consisting of Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos and the Most Reverend Tertiary (Tritevon) Kallinikos, visited the Vatican. Respectively, the Vatican sends a delegation every year to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Thronal feast of St. Andrew. Our country was represented by our ambassador to the Holy See Katia Georgiou at today’s ceremony.