Pope to Patriarch of Constantinople: χρόνια πολλά!
His Holiness Pope Francis and His Beatitude Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (Vatican Media)
His Holiness Pope Francis sends a video message congratulating His Beatitude Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on thirty years of ministry as Archbishop of Constantinople, and wishing him "many years" - "Chrónia pollá! Ad multos annos!".
By Christopher Wells
“I wish to express to Patriarch Bartholomew my warmest wishes for his anniversary, asking God to grant him health, serenity, spiritual joy, and – may I say – a sense of humour: even more!”
With these words, the Bishop of Rome, His Holiness Pope Francis, congratulates His Beatitude Archbishop of Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, on the thirtieth anniversary of his election to the See of St Andrew.
In a video message, the Pope remarks on the “good personal rapport” that has grown between the two spiritual leaders since the Patriarch came to Rome for the inauguration of Pope Francis’ ministry as Successor of Peter nine years ago. Since that time, the Pope says, their relationship has grown “into a fraternal friendship in the many meetings we have had throughout the years, not only Rome, but also in Constantinople, Jerusalem, Assisi, Cairo, Lesbos, and Bari.
Pope Francis notes the “shared awareness of our joint pastoral responsibility towards the urgent challenges that the entire human family must face today,” highlighting especially Patriarch Bartholomew’s commitment to the care of creation, and his witness and teaching during the pandemic…
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