Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas meets Pope Francis, the successor of St.Peter.
His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II , Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St Thomas and Metropolitan of Malankara will meet Pope Francis on the 5th of September 2013. A high Church delegation will accompany the Primate to Vatican.
Programme Schedule
On 4th afternoon the Indian Orthodox delegation will meet cardinal Gregory Cucco (Ecumenical Committee Chairman of Vatican), then visit of St Peters Basilica followed by dinner.
On 5th at 11 am Catholicos and the delegation will meet Pope Francis. Catholicos will introduce the Indian Church delegation, followed by a short speech from the Pope.
On 5th evening at 6 pm the Indian Orthodox delegation will meet sister Orthodox members at Domus Santa MAarte at Vatican.
See news from official Vatican Site:
http://www.news.va/en/news/catholicos-moran-baselios-marthoma-paulose-ii-to-v
Catholicos Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II to visit Pope Francis
Vatican City, 2 September 2012 (VIS) – The Holy See Press Office announced this morning that from 4 to 6 September His Holiness Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, India, will visit Pope Francis. The meeting will form part of the Catholicos' pastoral visit to orthodox faithful in Europe.
The Malankara Orthodox Church is divided into two communities: the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in full communion with the Orthodox Syrian Patriarch of Antioch, and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church led by His Holiness Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, (automous orthodox Church). The Orthodox Syrian Church currently has over 2.5 million members in thirty dioceses, with more than 33 bishops and 1,700 priests.
Two important meetings took place between Pope John Paul II and the Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I, in Rome in 1983 and in Kottayam in 1986; on the latter occasion the Mixed International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was established. In 1990, the common Christological Declaration was signed.
Since 1989 two parallel dialogues have taken place annually in Kerala, southern India; one with each of the two communities. These dialogues relate to questions on three main themes: the history of the Church in India, ecclesiology, and common witness.
The Catholicos Moran Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, as well as meeting with the Holy Father on Thursday 5 September, will visit the tomb of the Apostle Peter and will be received by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
Photo Courtesy : IOH