Hierarch of Phanar and Vatican Nuncio Discuss "Restoration of Unity"

Archbishop Elpidophoros met with Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Caccia to discuss the prospects of rapprochement between the Phanar and the Vatican. This was reported by Vima Orthodoxias.

The meeting took place on July 8, 2026, and was devoted to the development of dialogue between the Constantinopolitan and Roman Catholic Churches. Archbishop Elpidophoros congratulated Caccia on his appointment as Nuncio to the United States and emphasized the importance of maintaining the strong ties that the Phanar and the Holy See have been building for decades. According to him, these relations are based on "mutual respect and theological cooperation."

Special attention was paid to the significance of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which was described as a common point of reference for the entire Christian world. In this context, the interlocutors discussed the results of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Nicaea and Turkey, noting the importance of the shared ecclesiastical tradition for the process of "restoring unity."

The parties noted that the recent exchanges of official delegations for the celebration of the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul confirmed the continued relevance of the course toward unity.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the interlocutors agreed to continue active engagement. They reaffirmed the intention of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Vatican to strengthen "common witness" and to develop relations in the spirit of "brotherhood," despite international challenges.

As the SPJ reported, the Phanar's Archdiocese in the USA attempted to disrupt meetings in defense of the UOC.

Read also