On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Excellency Mr Paulo Cunha Alves, the Ambassador of Portugal to Romania, on a presentation visit at the Patriarchal Residence.
The Ambassador thanked the Patriarch of Romania for his hospitality and complimented the excellent historical ties between Romania and Portugal.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel praised the Ambassador’s extensive diplomatic activity and referred to the large number of Romanians temporarily or permanently residing in Portugal, the majority of whom are organised in seven parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal and have successfully integrated into Portuguese society.
Ambassador Paulo Cunha Alves emphasised the significance of the predominantly Orthodox Romanian community in Portugal, which, as a result of a dialogue with state authorities at both the central and local levels, will be able to acquire new liturgical spaces for the approximately 60,000 Orthodox Romanians in this country.
The Patriarch of Romania thanked the Ambassador for the Portuguese people’s kindness to Romanians residing permanently or temporarily in Portugal. He also indicated his desire to promote Romanian Patriarchate pilgrimages in Portugal.
During the meeting, the two interlocutors highlighted the role and importance of dialogue between Christians of different denominations in fostering a culture of peace and collaboration in response to modern society’s issues.
In this regard, it was remembered that Europe is presently dealing with the repercussions of the new coronavirus pandemic as well as a human and materially destructive war in Ukraine, which has had a significant negative impact at an ecclesiastic level.
Department for External Church Relations
Photography courtesy of Lumina Newspaper / Mihnea Păduraru
Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews
