Holy See delegation in Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul

(November 29, 2010) A four-member delegation of the Holy See is in Istanbul, Turkey to observe the Nov. 30 feast of St. Andrew, the patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople there. Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Christian Unity is heading the delegation that includes, Bishop Brian Farrell, the council secretary, Fr. Andrea Palmieri, an official of the Oriental Section at the council and Archbishop Antonio Lucibello, Apostolic Nuncio in Turkey. The delegation will take part in the Divine Liturgy on Tuesday presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and will also holds meetings with him and with the commission in charge of relations with the Catholic church. The Vatican delegation’s visit to Istanbul on the feast of St. Andrew is to reciprocate the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s delegation’s visit to Rome on the occasion of June 29^th feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patron of Rome. Patriarch Bartholomew I, holds a place of special honour among some 15 autonomous Eastern Orthodox Churches that are not in communion with the Catholic Church, but which whom there is dialogue for communion and unity. With some 300 million members worldwide, Orthodox Christians form the largest Christian group in the world after Catholics.