Pope Francis recalled the feastday of Saint Andrew, the brother of Saint Peter on 30 November. “May he teach us to seek the Messiah at every moment of our lives,” the Holy Father then asked.
In addition, the Holy Father recalled that Saint Andrew is the Patron of the Church that is in Constantinople, ” where a delegation from the Holy See has gone as usual .”
“I would like to express my special affection to my dear brother Patriarch Bartholomew I and to the entire Church of Constantinople,” the Pope said.
Finally, he asked that “the intercession of the holy brother apostles, Peter and Andrew, soon grant the Church to fully enjoy its unity and peace to the whole world.”
“Especially at this time to the beloved and martyred Ukraine, always in our hearts and prayers,” Pope Francis concluded.
The Holy Father referred to the delegation of the Holy See that traditionally visits the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople every year on the occasion of the feast of Saint Andrew.