Mixed Hopes, Fears For Papal Trip To Greece

VATICAN, Apr. 23, 01 (CWNews.com) - Catholic and Orthodox leaders in Greece are both hopeful and apprehensive about the prospects for the May visit by Pope John Paul II, according to the Italian daily Avvenire.

Orthodox Metropolitan Jeremy Caligiorgis, a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, told the Italian paper that he is "optimistic" about the Pope's visit. But Catholic Archbishop Nikolaos Foscolos of Athens said that he remains uncertain as to how the Holy Father will be received.

Metropolitan Jeremy-who is originally from Greece, although he now holds pastoral responsibilities for western Europe-said that the Pope's visit will mark "an important stage in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue." While he conceded that the situation in his native Greece is "difficult," but said that the progress in ecumenism during the past 30 years had made it possible for a Roman Pontiff to visit Greece despite the ancient hostilities there.

Archbishop Foscolos, however, expressed concerns that "obstacles might arise at the last moment" before the Pope's arrival. "To be frank, I am not sure about the outcome of this visit," he remarked.

"Ecumenism does not exist in Greece," the Catholic archbishop said. But he held out hope that John Paul's visit might produce some positive results. "The Pope knows how to make inroads into hearts," he said.

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
23. april 2001