In Greece, Pope to seek deeper ties with eastern churches

By NICOLE WINFIELD and DEREK GATOPOULOS
Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Pope Francis has arrived in Athens for the second leg of a five-day visit to Cyprus and Greece aimed at bolstering recently mended ties between the Vatican and Greek Orthodox churches. Francis is set to hold meetings on Saturday about an emerging alliance between the eastern and western branches of Christianity to respond to climate change and other major global problems. The pope’s trip to the region also has focused on the plight of asylum-seekers as some European nations harden their border control policies. Francis has accelerated interfaith initiatives as the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches attempt to shift from centuries of competition and mistrust toward collaboration.