Papal greeting to new Serbian Orthodox Patriarch

January 25, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI has sent his greetings to the newly elected Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church, offering his prayers that the new Serbian leader will find “the inner strength to consolidate the unity and spiritual growth of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well to build up the fraternal bonds with other churches and ecclesial communities.” The new Serbian Patriarch, who was serving as Metropolitan of Belgrade, was elected to replace the late Patriarch Pavle. In his message Pope Benedict saluted Pavle as “a pastor both fervent and esteemed,” voicing his appreciation for the late prelate’s “many gestures of openness toward the Catholic Church.”

 

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Further information:

• Message to New Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church (VIS)