Pope Francis met with Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni at the Vatican on Monday, following his recent decision to return three fragments of the Parthenon to Archbishop Ieronymos.
The fragments are now on display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
During the meeting, Mendoni presented the Pope with a letter from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressing his gratitude for the Pope’s significant decision to return the fragments.
— Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού (@cultureGR) March 27, 2023
Στο #Βατικανό, δεκτή από τον Πάπα Φραγκίσκο έγινε η #ΥΠΠΟΑ Λίνα Μενδώνη.
Η συνάντηση πραγματοποιήθηκε σε συνέχεια της δωρεάς των τριών θραυσμάτων του Παρθενώνα, τα οποία επανενώθηκαν στο Μουσείο της Ακρόπολης.https://t.co/mjqxsrjJHT#MinCultureGr #ReuniteParthenon pic.twitter.com/tuiCtYme9r
The Pope expressed his deep respect for Greece as the birthplace of western civilisation and commented on the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasising the importance of all efforts to restore peace.
As a gesture of appreciation, Mendoni offered the Pope a replica of the 1st-century BC marble statue, “To prosygaki,” at the end of the meeting.
Source: Ekathimerini.
