Pope Francis receives Metropolitan Filüksinos Yusuf Ҫetin

On 1 June the Holy Father received in private audience Metropolitan Filüksinos Yusuf Ҫetin, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, accompanied by the President of the Diocesan Association, Mr Sait Susin, and Deacon Joseph Önder.

This audience was part of the delegation's visit to the Vatican from 30 May to 1 June, during which Metropolitan Filüksinos Yusuf Ҫetin also met Cardinal Kurt Koch at the headquarters of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, as well as H.E. Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the DPCU, and H.E. Bishop Flaviano Rami Al Kabalan, Procurator of the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Syrians at the Holy See.

The visit of the delegation, accompanied by Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle, Official of the DPCU, followed the visit of Cardinal Kurt Koch to Istanbul on 8 October to represent Pope Francis at the opening ceremony of the new Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem in Istanbul, the first church to be built in Turkey since 1923.