Rome, September 19, 2024. Meeting of a delegation of the IAO and the organizations “Together for Europe”, “JC2033” and “Focolare” with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Holy See. Meeting with the co-signatories of the “Thessalonica Appeal” on Christian values in Europe.

A delegation of the IAO and the organizations “Together for Europe”, “JC2033” and “Focolare”, held an official visit to the Holy See and had a meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis. The IAO delegation, headed by the General Secretary Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, consisted by the president of the General Assembly, Romanian MP, Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, the MPs from Cyprus, Mr. Panikos Leonidou and Serbia, Mr. Alexander Čotrič, the advisor of the IAO Dr. Kostas Mygdalis and the IAO liaison with the Catholic institutions Mr. Virgilio Avato.

The organization “Together for Europe” was represented by its moderator Mr. Gerhard Pross from Germany, Johannes Fichtenbauer from Austria, and Diego Goller from Italy. The Center for Christian Unity “Uno”-Movement “Focolare” were represented by Ms. Maria Wienken from Germany, Mr. Enno Dijkema, from the Netherlands, Ms. Sandra Ferreira Ribeiro, from Brazil, the Syro-Orthodox Ms. Mervat Kelli and Ms. Heike Vesper, from Germany. From the “JC2033” movement, Mr. Martin Höegger, from Switzerland, and the pastor of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Switzerland, Michel Kocher, attended the meeting.

The meeting took place in view of the events for the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea, as well as the coincidence of the dates of Easter in 2025 for all Christians.

The IAO General Secretary in his statement about the meeting with the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church said inter-alia: “I am especially happy that, after the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew in Istanbul (Constantinople), we had the honor of meeting the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, here in the Vatican. At a time when Europe is facing very big challenges, with the Christian cultural heritage under threat, it is very important to send messages of cooperation of all Christians”.

The joint address of all the organizations to Pope Francis was read by Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, who, among other things, underlined that “we are sure that the path of collaboration you have paved with His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, is the path of hope for a brighter tomorrow. It is our duty to follow this path and to enlarge it for the sake of high Christian values and the good of all humanity”.

His Holiness Pope Francis, addressing the members of the organizations underlined the wish to “pursue to reflect, share and plan together, keeping Jesus before us, grateful for his call and willing, united, to be His witnesses, “so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). We must walk together. To do this, it will help us if we start from Jerusalem like the Apostles, who preached the message of the Resurrection to the whole world starting from that holy city. Let us also turn today to the Lord of Peace and pray that he will deliver his peace to us.

Dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord bless you and reward you for all you do. Thank you for this meeting. I am praying for you and please don’t forget to pray for me too.”

The IAO delegation, heade by the Secretary General, with the participation of the president of the General Assembly, and the advisor of the Organization, held a meeting with the co-signatories of the “Thessalonikiσυ Appeal” document on Christian values in Europe. The meeting was attended by the president of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Archbishop Nikitas of Thyatira and Great Britain, the Secretary General of CEC Mr. Frank Dieter Fishbach, the president of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), Bishop of Latino Mariano Crociata and the moderator of the organization “Together for Europe” Mr. Gerhard Pross.

The representatives of the organisations of the “Thessaloniki Appeal” document discussed the guidelines and common activities for the next period.