The head of the Cyprus Church plans to send an official invitation to new Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, elected on Thursday, for a visit to the island very soon.
Pope Francis had arrived in Cyprus, part of an apostolic journey to the Holy Land, in December 2021.
And beyond that, the Archbishop, who sent his congratulations to Pope Leo, will endeavour to visit Rome himself at the first possible opportunity and following coordination with the Pontificate’s authorities.
He said that the dialogue between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church must continue, because it will also send a message of unity. ‘In a world of other religions and atheism, Christianity must send a message of unity’, he added, noting that the Institution is bigger that the person representing it.
Referring to efforts at bringing the skull of Saint Paul to Cyprus, which were put on hold after the late Pope Francis fell seriously ill last February, Georgios said that he will take up the request with the new Pontiff too.
During the last two years of his Pontificate, Francis had intensified additional rapprochement efforts with the Orthodox Church and was set to meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to discuss celebrating Easter together.
