The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, was received on Tuesday by the Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, on the sidelines of a G20 Inter-faith Forum in Bologna.
The Patriarch arrived in the central Italian city as a guest of the Interfaith Forum of the G20 Summit, where he also addressed participants.
In a statement afterwards, Draghi praised the Ecumenical Patriarch’s pioneering and global role in environmental awareness and protection.
His All Holiness later officiated at a Divine Liturgy, on the occasion of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, at the Orthodox cathedral of St. Demetrius in Bologna.
The Metropolitan of Italy, His Eminence Polykarpos, and numerous clergymen of the Archdiocese of Italy and faithful attended the service.