Delegation of Holy See takes part in feast day celebration of Ecumenical Patriarchate
Within the framework of the traditional exchange of delegations for the respective feasts of their patron saints, on 29 June in Rome for the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul and on 30 November in Istanbul for the celebration of Saint Andrew, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, led the Holy See's delegation for the feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Cardinal was accompanied by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary, and Monsignor Andrea Palmieri, Under-Secretary. The delegation was joined in Istanbul by Monsignor Walter Erbi, chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Apostolic Nunciature in Turkey.
The Holy See's delegation took part in the solemn Divine Liturgy presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George at the Phanar.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Cardinal Koch conveyed to the Ecumenical Patriarch the Holy Father's signed message, which he read publicly after a brief introduction.