Pope Francis Returns to the Phanar to Attend Divine Liturgy

ISTANBUL – Pope Francis was enthusiastically greeted for a second time upon his arrival at the Ecumenical Patriarchate today, where he attended the Divine Liturgy to commemorate the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of the Church of Constantinople, the Byzantine name for present-day Istanbul. The Pope was received by Elder Metropolitan John of Pergamon and the Patriarchal Court, which escorted him to the special guest throne of the Patriarchal Church of St. George.

During the service, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis exchanged the kiss of peace, a symbol of reconciliation and love, and the Lord’s Prayer was read by Pope Francis in Latin.