On 15th February 2014, the second day of His Beatitude’s visit to the Republic of Mozambique, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa went to the north of the capital, Maputo, to the Nadale area, where he visited an orphanage, in which 49 children live, 27 of which are carriers of AIDS, while the others are either orphaned or have been abandoned by their parents. Through the care and concern of His Beatitude a large amount of foodstuff was collected – chickens, rice, etc – which was given to those in charge of the institution, as were many sweets and toys which were shared among the children.
His Beatitude was welcomed to the Orphanage by the children singing songs, and he, visibly moved, spoke with great love to them, hugging each one. He went on to s conducted tour of the entire orphanage where he saw with his own eyes the living conditions of the children, and in the office he was told of the health problems which many of the children face and how they are dealt with.
At noon on the same day he went to the Embassy of Egypt in Mozambique together with his entourage, where the Ambassador of Egypt Mr. Fawzy Mohammed El-Ashmawy hosted an official lunch in honour of the Patriarch, at the end of which the usual commemorative gifts were exchanged.
The local Bishop, His Grace Ioannis, accompanied by his compatriot Archimandrite Daniel Biazis, departed for the airport in Maputo, where they welcomed the Zakynthos Parliamentarian and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Friendship between Greece and Mozambique Mr. Stavros Kontonis as well as the Director General of the International relations of the Hellenic Parliament Mrs. Panagiota Miliou.
That same evening, the Patriarch and his entourage visited the home of the Honourary Consul General of Greece in Mozambique, Mr Gerasimos Marketis, whose family hosted a reception in honour of the Patriarch, to which the Greek Representatives, Ambassadors of many countries and personalities from Mozambique were invited, as well as many members of the Greek community.
