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Catholic World News News Feature

American Appointed Greek Orthodox Archbishop Of All-Americas July 31, 1996

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CWN) - The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) announced on Tuesday the election of Metropolitan Spyridon Yorgi as the new Greek Orthodox archbishop of North and South America.

Metropolitan Spyridon, who was born in Warren, Ohio, succeeds Archbishop Geron Iakovos, who retired on Monday after leading the 2 million-member Greek Orthodox church since 1959. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, symbolic spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, praised his work in pursuing good relations with Catholics. Metropolitan Spyridon served on an Orthodox-Catholic Vatican commission while he was leader of Greek Orthodox Christians in Italy.

The Greek Orthodox archdiocese of North and South America is under direct control of the Ecumenical Patriarch. The selection of Metropolitan Spyridon, 51, was made by the Holy Synod led by Patriarch Bartholomew. He will be installed in his office on September 21 in New York.

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Pope Sends Condolences For Funeral Of African Patriarch

VATICAN CITY (CWN) - Pope John Paul sent his condolences to Greek Orthodox Patriarch Porphyrios of Alexandria on Tuesday on the occasion of the funeral of the Patriarch's predecessor, Patriarch Parthenios.

Patriarch Parthenios was buried in Cairo on Tuesday. The Holy Father was represented by Archbishop Paolo Giglio, Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, and Bishop Gerard Daucort of the Pontifical Council of Christian Unity.

In his message, the Holy Father remembered Patriarch Parthenios' ecumenical work with the Catholic Church. "Patriarch Parthenios III valued close and continual relations with the Catholic Church, in order to eliminate obstacles to the reestablishment of full communion between our Churches," the message said.