Pope offers condolences to Greek Orthodox mourning leader's death

Published: 2008-01-29

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI offered his condolences to the Orthodox Church of Greece on the death of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, who "opened a new era of cordial cooperation" between Catholics and Orthodox. Archbishop Christodoulos, the 69-year-old primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, died Jan. 28 in Athens after a long struggle with intestinal and liver cancer. In a telegram to Orthodox Metropolitan Seraphim of Karystia and Skyros, Pope Benedict called Archbishop Christodoulos a "distinguished pastor" and praised him particularly for welcoming Pope John Paul II to Greece in 2001, a visit that was opposed by many Orthodox bishops and priests. Welcoming Pope John Paul and then traveling to the Vatican in 2006, Archbishop Christodoulos "opened a new era of cordial cooperation between us, leading to increased contacts and improved friendship in the search for closer communion in the context of the growing unity of Europe," Pope Benedict wrote.

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