Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

As part of the traditional exchange of delegations for the respective feasts of the patron saints — on 29 June in Rome for the celebration of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and on 30 November in Istanbul for the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle — a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate visited Rome from 27 to 29 June. The delegation, led by His Eminence Emmanuel Adamakis, Metropolitan of Chalcedon, also included Fathers Aetios (Nikiforos) and Ieronymos (Sotirelis).

On Saturday 28 June, the representatives of the Patriarchate were received in audience by Pope Leo XIV. Following the reading of a message from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, delivered by Metropolitan Emmanuel, the Holy Father recalled in his address "the courageous and far-sighted steps taken by Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras", which made possible the resumption of genuine dialogue between the sister Churches of Rome and Constantinople. The Holy Father further assured the delegation of his "determination to persevere in the effort to restore full visible communion between our Churches", and declared himself "open to any suggestion in this regard".

On Sunday 29 June, the delegation from the Patriarchate attended the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Holy Father.