Sheparding Western Europe: Ecumenical Patriarch to the Benelux - Updated

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is embarking on an extended visit to the Benelux, arriving in Amsterdam on 5 November 2019.It is his first visit to the Metropolis of Belgium,Exarchate of the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 25 years.The journey marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Metropolis by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Leading the Metropolis today is His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras.It consists of 39 parishes in the Benelux Region.Metropolitan Athenagoras is the permanent Representative of all Orthodox to the governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.He also is Chairman of the Orthodox Bishops' Conference of Benelux (CEOB), which was created by a decision of the 4th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Conciliar Conference in Chambesy, Geneva, Switzerland in June 2009.Members of CEOB will meet with Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit.*
Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Dutch parishes, including St.Katherine in Amsterdam and St.Nicholas in Rotterdam,as well as attend an Ecological Symposium.*
On 10 November, the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy will be served for the fiftieth anniversary of the Metropolis at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Brussels.After the liturgy,a reception and luncheon will be held.On 11 November,a Gala dinner for the anniversary will take place in Brussels at the Steigenberger Wiltehers,Loui Bar and Restaurant at 7:30 pm.*
The Patriarchal visit to the Benelux will conclude in the Duchy of Luxembourg on 14 November.*
Update:
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Amsterdam on 5 November.He spoke at the International Water Week ecological symposium and consecrated the Church of St.Katherine.*

Leaders the Patriarch will meet during his visit to the Benelux include King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands;King Phillipe of Belgium; Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg; and the Vice-President of the European Commission Margarita Schinas.*

On 14 November, Patriarch Bartholomew will depart Luxembourg for Venice, where he will address a Byzantine studies conference on "Ecumenical Hellenism in Venice".Finally,he will arrive back in Constantinople on 16 November.

Publicis-Omnicom:the Meaning of the Merger

The merger of Publicis and Omnicom is a big,bold move,strategically counterculture and structurally a bit clunky,said Sir Martin Sorrell,CEO of advertising and public relations firm WPP Group.They have to jump regualtory hurdles.There will be impacts on clients and their people.We're already seeing a certain degree of disruption,which we will seek to capitalise on.*There will be two large companies-ourselves and Publicis Omnicom Group.It makes you a little more energetic.We've done five or six deals in Brazil,in the UK,and two in Asia.I wanted to signal to our people that we want to be a little more energetic.We have 165,000 people in 110 countries.Size for size's sake,I'm not sure there's anything in that.*Our clients probably lowered their earnings estimates.They're getting there by cost-cutting,small leaps-a focus on cost,finance and procurement that shows in the lack of top line growth.It can't continue forever.*Western Europe,the UK and Germany are stronger than people realise.July surprised us a little on the upside,Sir Martin Sorrel noted.

Insurers Looking Abroad

A majority of insurers are planning to concentrate their growth overseas in the next three years.In a survey conducted by Accenture,62% of the 100 firms surveyed said they planned to grow abroad over the next year.Brazil,Russia,India and China are their main prospects.
Insurers from North America were more likely to expand overseas than those from other regions.While property and casualty insurers are more interested in Western Europe,life insurers are focused on emerging markets such as South Korea,India and China,the Accenture survey found.