Coming to the Vatican in the next few weeks

Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams on 11/23

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Archbishop Christodoulos

Archbishop Christodoulos’ Dec. 14 visit will be the first ever official visit by a Greek church leader to the Vatican, with which the eastern Orthodox church — of which the Church of Greece is a part — split in the acrimonious Schism of 1054.

A statement by the Church of Greece’s governing body, the Holy Synod, said the visit followed an invitation by the pope.

"The Holy Synod expressed its joy that this visit will be carried out," the statement said. "Its fruits will be positive."

The program of the visit, during which the pope will present the archbishop with an important Christian relic — a section of the chain of Saint Peter — will be settled with the Vatican, the statement said.

Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, had invited Christodoulos to the Vatican during his historic visit to Athens in 2001 — the first ever by a pope since the schism. But the return visit was postponed after senior Greek church officials expressed fears it might anger Greek Orthodox zealots who oppose any improvement in ties with the Catholic church.