Pope laments ‘hostility and prejudice’ with Cypriot Orthodox

Pope Francis attends a ceremony at the Apostolos Barnavas Orthodox Cathedral in Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Francis is on a five-day trip to Cyprus and Greece by drawing attention once again to his call for Europe to welcome migrants. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

The Pope has lamented centuries of hostility and prejudice that have divided Catholics and Orthodox as he met the leader of Cyprus’s Greek Orthodox Church.

Archbishop Chrysostomos II hosted Francis for private talks at his residence and invited him to the new Orthodox Cathedral of St Barnabas for an encounter with the Holy Synod, the highest decision-making body of the Greek Orthodox Church.