Paying tribute to the steadfast faith of Orthodox Christians in Georgia, Pope Francis has urged them to draw closer to other Christians and work together to share the Gospel.
Georgian Orthodox Patriarch Ilia II, who recently has been cautious in his relations with leaders of other churches, greeted Pope Francis when he arrived at the Tbilisi airport, welcomed him to the patriarchal palace that evening and hosted him again at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta.
Walking into a meeting hall at the patriarchate, Pope Francis helped the 83-year-old Patriarch Ilia, who moves with great difficulty because of Parkinson's disease.
