Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Begins Official Visit to Italy

On 2 May 2023,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,at the invitation of the Catholic authorities,began a six-day official visit to Florence,Salerno and Naples,Italy.In the course of his visit,he will meet with the Archbishop of Florence,His Excellency Cardinal Giuseppe Betore and representatives of local organizations.He will also be awarded an honorary doctorate by the Theological School of Central Italy.Furthermore,he will deliver a speech at an ecumenical prayer service at the Basilica di San Lorenzo.Then he will meet and bless Orthodox Christians residing in Florence,the capital of Tuscany,who belong to the Greek Orthodox Church of St.James the Brother of the Lord.* Next,Patriarch Bartholomew will travel to Salerno and meet with the Archbishop of Salerno,Campania and Acerno,His Excellency Andrea Bellardi and local government officials.At that time,he will receive from the Archbishop a portion of the relics of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist St.Matthew,whose relics are kept in the Cathedral of Campania,Italy.He will also address the clergy and students of Salerno's Theological School. Patriarch Bartholomew will then speak at an event organized by the University and Prefecture of Salerno,meeting with bishops of the Salerno Metropolitan District as well.His All-Holiness will conclude his journey with a visit to Naples,Italy on 7 May.There he will preside at the Divine Liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Church of Sts.Peter and Paul,blessing the Orthodox faithful of Naples.* Accompanying Patriarch Bartholomew will be Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi;His Eminence Polykarpos,Archbishop of Italy and Exarch of Southern Europe;Patriarchal Deacon Varnavas;and Secretary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Mr.Nikolaos Papaioannou.