THE BROTHERS OF GALILEE : PETER AND ANDREW IN THE HOLY LAND

The Meeting of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Holy City of Jerusalem

Saints Peter and Andrew Purpose of the Meeting Between Pope Francis and

St. Peter is considered the leader of the first twelve Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem apostles of Jesus Christ and the founder, along with the Apostle Paul, of the historic Church of Rome. His On Sunday, May 25, 2014, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis will meet at the Church of brother, St. Andrew, was the first-called among the the Holy Sepulcher to commemorate a meeting in the Holy Land fifty years ago by their revered predecessors, Official Channels first twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the founder of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI. of Communication the Church of Constantinople, also known as the New Rome. The historic meeting in 1964 marked the beginning of a new era in the relations Follow Pope Francis and Ecumenical between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople, and indirectly between Patriarch Bartholomew via social media Saints Peter and Andrew were Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy as a whole. The significance of that event and through their official websites. For a fishermen from Galilee and their can only be fully appreciated if placed against the background of a millennium complete listing visit: direct spiritual descendants today, in a branded with theological estrangement and mutual mistrust between the two great traditions of the Church. www.apostolicpilgrimage.org/ long line of apostolic succession over official-channels two thousand years, are Pope Francis (Bishop of Rome) and Ecumenical The 1964 meeting in Jerusalem was the beginning of a long journey, which the Patriarch Bartholomew (Bishop of succeeding generations were called to continue. Looking back at the fifty years Constantinople). after the event, both Churches can be grateful that a great deal has been achieved both in the “dialogue of love” (namely, the general exchanges and communications between their leaders and The patronal feast days of the churches representatives) and in the “dialogue of truth” (namely, the official theological dialogues and conversations). instituted by the two early disciples are The spirit of fraternal love and mutual respect has replaced the old polemic and suspicion. There is still a lot to June 29th for the Church of Rome and November 30th be achieved and, indeed, the path seems to be long. This path, however, must be followed in spite of difficulties; for the Church of Constantinople. there is no alternative.

Blog The first bishop installed in Rome (in the year 64AD) The forthcoming meeting of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis by St. Peter was Linus. The first bishop installed in in Jerusalem this coming May is expected to be a strong symbolic confirmation Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople, was Stachys of the commitment and determination to continue the path which the two great The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (in the year 38AD). Church leaders inaugurated half a century ago. Their contemporary witness of America’s Department of Inter- is in the same spirit of love and faithfulness to the truth of the Gospel, as was Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith transmitted to us by the great Fathers of the Church. Moreover, the problems Relations is offering blog posts and It is, therefore, an event of immense spiritual and reflections on the historic anniversary theological importance that the two contemporary facing humanity throughout the world call for cooperative leadership between meeting between Pope Francis and successors of these early apostles and current leaders of these leaders of the Christianity. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. these ancient churches will meet on May 25, 2014, in the Holy Land, the site of the historical roots and very All of this makes the forthcoming meeting of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem www.apostolicpilgrimage.org/blog foundation of Christianity. an event of great significance. THE BROTHERS OF GALILEE : PETER AND ANDREW IN THE HOLY LAND

The Meeting of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Holy City of Jerusalem Check out ApostolicPilgrimage.org for informative and interactive content, including:

History Biographies of the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Learn about the history leading up to the Apostolic Pilgrimiage of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Get to know Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, including a timeline of visits between Bartholomew through their biographies, iconographics, Popes and Ecumenical Patriarchs, archival news clip- and initiatives. pings, dialogue, and more.

1964: Pilgrimage Toward Unity: Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem (1964) Based on Correspondence and Archives

In January 1964, two Christian prelates broke a silence of centuries with a simple gesture of embrace and a few gentle words. A little-noticed historic meeting in Jerusalem between Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI reflected the simple dominical prayer and commandment by Christ “that His disciples may be one” (John 17.21); but what began was a journey of exceptional transformation in the relations between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, two “sister churches,” which had shared an entire millennium of common doctrine and spiritual tradition, fol- Media Live Broadcast lowed by an entire millennium of division and alienation. Explore the media coverage through news articles and On Sunday, May 25 at 12:00 PM EST (11:00 AM the blog. Also, don’t forget to check out the videos and CST, 9:00 AM PST) the meeting of His Holiness Pope Learn more by visiting: www.apostolicpilgrimage.org/historicmeeting photo gallery! Francis and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem will be streamed live at: www.apostolicpilgrimage.org/live