Pope to meet with president of Cyprus

March 26, 2009

The Embassy of Cyprus to the Holy See has announced that President Demetris Christofias will meet with Pope Benedict on March 27. President Christofias will also meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and with Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant'Egidio Community, which is assisting the Cypriot president in his desire to reunify his nation. Cyprus has been divided since a 1974 Turkish invasion. Only 2% of the nation’s 800,000 residents are Catholic; 78% are Eastern Orthodox, while 18% are Muslim.

 

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Further information:

• President of Cyprus to Visit Benedict XVI (Zenit)
• Cyprus: Portrait of a Christianity Obliterated (Chiesa, 2006)
• The Orthodox Church of Cyprus (CNEWA)