Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni was received by Pope Francis this morning in the Vatican. The meeting that
it took place in a particularly warm climate and lasted forty-five minutes, was scheduled at the invitation of the pontiff, after the donation of three fragments of the Parthenon from the Vatican Museums, which were reunited at the Acropolis Museum on Friday, March 24.

Lina Mendoni presented the Pope with a letter from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanking him for his important decision to donate the three Parthenon fragments to Archbishop Jerome. The minister herself mentioned, in particular, the special importance of the Pope’s generous step for the entire Greek people, as well as the constant request of Greece for the final reunion of the Parthenon sculptures in Greece and the Acropolis Museum.

The Pontiff emphasized the special respect he has for Greece as the cradle of Western civilization, and the meeting marked the excellent, friendly and sincere relations between Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Pope Francis also, for his part, highlighted the war in Ukraine and the importance of ongoing efforts to restore peace.

Lina Mendoni presented the Pope with a copy of the 1st century BC marble statue known as “The Refugee”, which was made by ODAP especially for the Pope, knowing his special love for children and his sensitivity to refugees. problem. The original statue was discovered at Gerontiko in Nysa near Smyrna and was brought to Greece by refugees from Asia Minor who donated it to the National Archaeological Museum.