Francis in Cyprus and Greece

Michael Sean Winters: Pope Francis held up St. Paul's speech to the Athenians as a model of evangelization, saying "he did not impose; he proposed." This is the pedagogy of accompaniment, which can scarcely be labeled "heretical" or "confusing" as some conservatives are wont to do.

Less than a week after accepting the resignation of Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit following reports of an "ambiguous" relationship with a woman, Pope Francis on Dec. 6 defended the recently ousted prelate, saying "we cannot condemn."

Celebrating Mass Dec. 5 in Athens' Megaron concert hall, Pope Francis spoke of the blessing and spiritual advantage of being a small community without power and without pretenses.

Pope Francis on Dec. 5 chided world leaders for their "cynical disregard" of the plight of migrants.

Pope Francis asked forgiveness for the historical "mistakes committed by many Catholics" against Orthodox Christians.

 As Pope Francis arrived in the birthplace of democracy, he immediately sounded the alarm that democracy is under threat across the globe.

Daniel Ejuba, a refugee from Cameroon, may be the only person from northern Nicosia who is excited for Pope Francis' visit to Cyprus. Most of its non-practicing Muslim-majority residents are blissfully unaware (or, apathetic and amused) that Francis is in town.

In a meeting with Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Pope Francis assured him that "your sorrows and your joys are also ours."

Pope Francis pleaded for an end to "walls of fear" and "vetoes dictated by nationalist interests" on Dec. 2, as he arrived in the splintered eastern Mediterranean capital city of Nicosia.

In an email interview with NCR, Cyprus' ambassador to the Holy See, George Poulides, described Pope Francis' "solidarity" with the island nation as "politically, diplomatically, religiously and morally important."

Pope Francis' Dec. 2-6 trip to Cyprus and Greece will serve as an opportunity to boost some of the signature themes of his papacy: migration, synodality and ecumenical outreach.

Pope Francis is arranging to transfer a number of migrants to Italy from the east Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.

Pope Francis will visit Cyprus and Greece next month, the Vatican confirmed on Nov. 5.