Archbishop Elpidophoros of America meets with Pope Leo at the Vatican

July 17, 2025
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

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Archbishop Elpidophoros of America meets with Pope Leo at the Vatican

A special moment in inter-Christian dialogue was recorded today in the Vatican, during the meeting of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America with Pope Leo XIV. The meeting took place in the context of a pilgrimage that connects three symbolic stations of Christian history: Rome, Constantinople and Nicaea.

Addressing the Pontiff, Archbishop Elpidophoros referred not only to the geographical route of the pilgrimage, but also to its profound spiritual dimension. As he characteristically said, “we stood before His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as pilgrims, traveling together not only the holy pilgrimages of Rome, Constantinople and Nicaea, but also the spiritual journey of healing and reconciliation.”

In a move of strong symbolism, the Archbishop chose to recall the words of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras from his 1964 meeting with Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem – one of the most defining moments in the process of rapprochement between Orthodox and Catholics:

“May this meeting be the dawn of that blessed and bright day, in which future generations, communicating from the same Chalice, will partake of the Holy Body and Precious Blood of our Savior, and with love, peace and unity will praise and glorify Him – the one Lord and Savior of the world.”

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