Pope Francis entrusted his Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece to Our Lady’s protection. The Pope took a moment from his busy schedule on Wednesday afternoon to pray a while at the feet of the ancient Roman icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani.
He also laid a bouquet of flowers on the altar where the icon is housed in the Borghese Chapel. The Pope sets off on Thursday morning for a 3-day visit to the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, before traveling on Saturday to Greece where he will stay until Monday.
One of the main highlights of his visit will be the ecumenical relations with the Orthodox Churches. The Pontiff meets with Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus, head of the island’s Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as with the Orthodox Holy Synod of Cyprus on Saturday.
His visit to Greece will see the Pope meet with Ieronymos II of Athens, the primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece.