Pope discusses Catholic immigrants, ecumenism with Greek bishops

Published: 2006-10-30

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- More than 80 percent of Catholics in Greece are immigrants, and the church in their countries of origin must help the Greek bishops minister to them, Pope Benedict XVI said. Meeting Oct. 30 with the Greek bishops, the pope asked them to be strong and patient as they face the challenges of improving relations with the country's Orthodox majority and in negotiating the legal status of the Catholic Church with the government. The bishops were in Rome for their "ad limina" visits, which bishops make every five years to report on the status of their dioceses. Speaking on behalf of the group, Bishop Franghiskos Papamanolis of Syros told the pope that because of a massive influx of immigrants "Greek Catholics have become a minority of 18 percent within the Catholic Church in Greece. This has forced us to change radically our pastoral work among our faithful, especially on the level of mentalities, in order to integrate traditions of Catholic faith in various nations," said Bishop Papamanolis, president of the Greek bishops' conference.

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