The Patriarch of Alexandria held a meeting with the Pope of Rome

Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa visited Rome to participate in an international meeting organized by the Community of Saint Egidio under the motto «Daring for Peace». During his visit, which took place from October 26 to 28, 2025, the Primate of the Church of Alexandria delivered keynote speeches calling for the unity of Christians and an immediate end to armed conflicts around the world, with special attention to the suffering on the African continent. The visit ended with a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican.

According to Romfea.gr, Patriarch Theodore arrived in Rome as an official guest and one of the main speakers of the forum. The opening ceremony was held in the presence of dignitaries including Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayyib.

In his address to the session «Unity among Christians: finding the way again,» the Patriarch emphasized the urgent need to rethink inter-Christian dialogue. «How can we speak of peace and demand that rulers establish peace when the peace of Christ does not reign among Christians themselves?» — he asked rhetorically. He called for mutual respect and recognition of each other’s history, with Christ as the only center. «It is time for deeds, not words, for actions, not wishes, » the Patriarch concluded.

As part of the visit, His Beatitude also participated in a session on the theme «Africa: the rising continent». At the conclusion of the session, the Patriarch awarded the President of the Community of St. Egidio, Prof. Marco Impagliazzo, with the Order of the Golden Lion, thanking the community for its significant contribution and service in Africa, calling it a «Good Samaritan of the Gospel.»

The forum culminated with a joint prayer for peace in Rome’s Colosseum, where Patriarch Theodore II delivered the keynote address. Recalling Christ’s words, «Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,» he called on all present to «dare to fight for peace, dare to pray for peace, and become laborers for the peace of God.» Later, Patriarch Theodore met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, during which they discussed current issues and exchanged memorable gifts.

Earlier, the secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations for Inter-Christian Relations, Hieromonk Stephen (Igumnov), spoke about why the decision was made to break relations with the Patriarchate of Alexandria and to establish the African exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the priest, the situation developed in this way due to the non-canonical actions of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, who recognized the PCU and served with the head of this organization.