Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens meets with the WCC Secretary General

His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece received Dr. Jerry Pillay, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC), in a meeting held yesterday, 4 July 2024. The session was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia, Protopresbyter Emmanuel Papamikroulis, Secretary of the Synodal Committee on Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Christian Relations, and Fr. Varnavas Theocharis, the Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens.

Archbishop Ieronymos warmly welcomed Dr. Pillay and wished him a pleasant stay in Greece. Dr. Pillay expressed gratitude for the meeting and discussed the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. He highlighted the WCC’s initiatives, specifically mentioning efforts to facilitate dialogue between the Russian and Ukrainian Churches.

Regarding Gaza, Dr. Pillay shared insights from his recent visit to the region and emphasised the urgent need to end the conflict. He also outlined the WCC’s peace efforts in other regions, such as Sudan and Colombia.

Archbishop Ieronymos thanked Dr. Pillay for his visit and reflected on the painful nature of global divisions. He remarked, “These many and varied divisions are painful. There is nothing we can do but work together on the ground. We always see a question lingering where things go in people’s communication and the little opportunity we have to be heard. It also takes effort not to create divisions, which is a bitter experience.”

Photographs: Christos Bonis

Source: orthodoxtimes.com