Archbishop Elpidophoros Welcomes the Election of Pope Leo XIV, Calling it a Historic Milestone for the Church

The head of the American Archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archbishop Elpidophoros, welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, to the position of head of the Roman Catholic Church, calling it an event of great historical significance. He emphasized that this is the first time in history that a Pope comes from the United States. This was reported by the Orthodox Times.

In an official message shared on social media, the Archbishop stated: “With fraternal respect, we recognize the historic election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Bishop of Rome. For the first time, a Pontiff comes from the United States, and this is truly a milestone.”

Furthermore, Archbishop Elpidophoros noted that the new Pope continues the traditions of his predecessor, Pope Francis, especially in the fields of ecumenical dialogue and social justice. He highlighted that Pope Leo XIV’s ministry is inspired by the example of Pope Francis and resonates with the commitment of Patriarch Bartholomew to the cause of ecumenism, reconciliation, and aid to vulnerable members of society.

The Archbishop also stressed the importance of strengthening dialogue and cooperation between Christian churches. “At this significant moment, we renew our unwavering commitment to strengthening dialogue and fraternal cooperation between our Churches, guided by humility, openness, and mutual respect,” he added.

It is also worth noting that the head of the American Archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Archbishop Elpidophoros, previously called the war between Russia and Ukraine “brotherly madness.” The hierarch stated that the war in Ukraine was caused by political ambitions and that the conflict itself is “unnecessary and heartless.”