Papal Telegram on Death of Christodoulos

Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram to His Eminence Seraphim Metropolitan of Karystia and Skyros to express his condolences over the death on Monday of the head of the Orthodox Church in Greece.

The Telegram reads

Deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, I express to you, to the Holy Synod and all the faithful my earnest condolences, assuring you of my spiritual closeness to all those who mourn the passing of this distinguished pastor of the Church of Greece. The fraternal welcome which His Beatitude gave my predecessor Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his visit to Athens in May 2001 and the return visit of Archbishop Christodoulos to Rome in December 2006 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. I and Catholics around the world pray that the Orthodox Church of Greece will be sustained by the grace of God in continuing to build on the pastoral achievements of the late Archbishop and that in commending the noble soul of His Beatitude to our heavenly Father’s loving mercy you will be comforted by the Lord’s promise to reward his faithful servants.
Please accept, Your Eminence, this expression of my closeness in prayer to you and your brother Bishops as you guide the Church in this time of transition. With fraternal affection in the Lord.


The funeral of Christodoulos will be on Thursday. The celebrant will be the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I. The President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Paul Poupard, and the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Bishop Brian Farrel,l will represent the Holy See.