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Situation Update Greece

Greece 05/01/2001

Pope Visit 4-5 May, Protests Expected

More than 2,000 monks and Greek Orthodox activists rallied in Athens yesterday to protest the upcoming visit to the city by Pope John Paul II. The Pope is scheduled to visit May 4-5. This will be the first papal visit to the city in nearly 13 centuries. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church blame the Roman Catholic Church for numerous injustices and they have staged several protests over the last two weeks and have threatened to continue during the Pope's visit. Riot police officers dispersed demonstrators who had marched to the parliament building. Later, approximately 50 demonstrators marched to the Orthodox archdiocese to protest the decision by the church to lift its objections to the pope's visit.

The Greek government plan to deploy over 4,500 extra police for the occasion, believed to be the largest such deployment ever in Greece. Security has been heightened at the St. Denis Cathedral, as well as at other churches, in anticipation of the visit.

SOS Comment

Last week, Orthodox monks held demonstrations protesting upcoming visit. They believe that the Vatican is trying to spread its influence into southeastern Europe. These demonstrations were peaceful and there were no signs of trouble. However, it would not be surprising if protests this coming Friday did, especially in the vicinity of the Aregopoulos, a hill in Athens (not the Acropolis) on which the apostle Paul once preached. Other potential flashpoints include a welcoming ceremony at the home of President Costis Stephanopoulos and May 5 religious services to be led by the Pope

In anticipation of the coming visit, Orthodox monks last week held demonstrations to protest the pope’s arrival, viewing it as a Vatican effort to spread its influence into southeastern Europe.