On 7th January 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received at the Patriarchal See Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, exarch of the Committee of Eastern Churches of the Roman Catholic Church. The Cardinal passed on to His Beatitude the wholehearted personal wishes of Pope Benedict XVI of Rome for the New Year of Salvation 2013, as well as an invitation for the Alexandrian Primate to visit Rome in due course.
During the meeting lengthy discussions were held on issues regarding the present and future of Christians in the Middle East in the particular social and political circumstances prevalent in the area following the so-called Arab Spring. His Beatitude analytically presented the activities which he has tirelessly undertaken together with the Orthodox Primates of the East, both in the Middle East Council of Churches as well as in communication with leading local and international politicians. Special mention was also made of the role of the Alexandrian Church as an agent for reconciliation and peace both in the Land of the Nile and throughout the African continent. It was ascertained that there is commonality of views regarding the role which Christianity can play, regardless of doctrinal differences, in consolidation of peace, as well as in the promotion of inter-religious dialogue on issues of human rights.
