ECCLESIA
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From the Press Office of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens Archbishop's statement for the PopeAthens, April 8, 2005 After the end of the Funeral Service of the Pope John Paul II, His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, made the following statement: "Returning from the Funeral Service of the late Pontiff John Paul II, whose memory is blessed, I would like to express once again my sincere sorrow for the loss of this great personality of the Roman Catholic Church, the undoubted protagonist in the cause of world peace, freedom and human rights. The entire world will remember him also for his affectionate approach of the youth, his protection of the unprivileged and his defence of the principles and values of European civilisation. Hellenism will be grateful to him most particularly for proclaiming Saints Cyril and Methodius, Illuminators of the Slavs, "heavenly patrons of Europe" (Encyclical Letter Egregiae Virtutis, 31.12.1980). As he noted later: "The brothers from Thessaloniki were heirs not only to the faith but also to the culture of Ancient Greece continued by Byzantium. And we know how important this heritage has been for the entire European civilisation and, directly or indirectly, for the whole of world civilisation". His historical visit to Greece in 2001 created new bridges of communication, reconciliation and cooperation between our two Apostolic Churches. This is why I wholeheartedly wish that his successor be of equal value, so that he may continue with the same enthusiasm the efforts of the dialogue "of love in truth"! May the Lord give rest to his kind soul". [Transl. by Dr N. C. Petropoulos, M.St., D.Phil. {Oxon.}] |