Pope in Cyprus for the first time

Pope Benedict XVI in Cyprus. (photo courtesy of Cyprus Tourism Organisation)

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cyprus June 4 on a three-day “pilgrimage” trip.

The pontiff, who said he was following in the footsteps of the apostles Paul and Barnabas, said the island was blessed by a “resilient Christian heritage” and saluted the head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, as his “brother”.

The Pope was greeted in the southwestern resort of Paphos by  Chrysostomos and by President Demetris Christofias, who said, “Cyprus is in need of your words of peace, given the difficult situation the island is facing.”  Turkish troops have been stationed in the breakaway north of the island since a 1974 invasion in reaction to a Greek Cypriot coup seeking to unite the island  with Greece.

“Allow me to say that Cyprus is in need of your prayers and your contribution in order to quickly regain its unity and freedom,” the president added.

The 83-year-old pontiff made an oblique reference to the division, which continues after decades of fruitless UN-sponsored talks. “May the love of your families and the desire to live in harmony with your neighbors” under God’s protection “inspire you patiently to resolve the remaining concerns that  you share with the international community for the future of your island,” he said.

Benedict is the first pope to visit Cyprus, and this is his first trip to an Orthodox country.  His first stop after leaving the Paphos airport was the nearby ancient church of Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa and St Paul’s Pillar, where he was to take part in an “ecumenical celebration” with Chrysostomos, who has called on people to welcome him.

He also has an official mission to hand over to Catholic prelates who have come to Cyprus from the Middle East a working document for a synod on regional  issues to be held October 2010.

The pope spent June 5 and 6 in the capital Nicosia, where he celebrated two masses.