Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne meets with Roman Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli
In the spirit of deepening Christian fellowship within Melbourne, His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia shared a fraternal lunch with The Most Reverend Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne. Also present was the Very Reverend Dr. Cameron Forbes, Rector of Corpus Christi Seminary, a prominent institution for the formation of Catholic clergy in Victoria and Tasmania.
During the luncheon, held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and theological openness, Bishop Kyriakos conveyed the warm regards and well wishes of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia to Archbishop Comensoli, particularly in light of the recent election of the new Pope of Rome.
The year 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325 AD—a foundational moment for the formulation of Christian doctrine and unity. It also commemorates two milestones in modern ecumenical relations: the 60th anniversary of the mutual lifting of the anathemas between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in 1965, and the 30th anniversary of Ut unum sint, Pope John Paul II’s landmark encyclical on Christian unity.
In this context, the leaders discussed topics of mutual interest, including theological education, pastoral formation, Orthodox-Catholic marriages, and the ongoing challenges facing Christian communities in a secular age. The brotherly discussion reflected the spirit of fraternity that has mutually developed between His Grace Bishop Kyriakos and Archbishop Comensoli as they continue to serve their respective communities in Melbourne.
As a symbol of this deepening relationship, His Grace Bishop Kyriakos presented Fr. Forbes with a sacred gift—an icon of Our Lady of Yellow Rock. The icon is now at Corpus Christi Seminary for public veneration, serving as a tangible reminder of the shared devotion to the Theotokos and the common apostolic faith that binds both Churches.
This meeting stands as a testament to the enduring commitment of both Churches to the path of dialogue, reconciliation, and unity in Christ.
