Cyprus

Archbishop Chrysostomos II offers the Pope a gift
At the end of his first day in Cyprus, Pope
Benedict XVI has taken up residence –as is
traditional on Papal journeys– at the Apostolic
Nunciature, which in Nicosia is in a wing
of the Franciscan Friary of the Holy Cross,
which belongs to the Custody of the Holy
Land, with adjacent the church of the same
name, which is the parish of the Catholic Latin
Community of Cyprus. The church and the
Franciscan Friary are within the United Nations
buffer zone, near the Paphos Gate.
On Saturday, the Pope and his Entourage
paid a visit to the Presidential Palace. They
were welcomed by President Christofias, and
the First Lady, Elsi Christofias. The two men
had a meeting and exchanged gifts. The Pope
also signed the Visitors Book. After that, the
President of the Republic and the Pontiff
proceeded to the Gardens of the Presidential
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Palace where the Civil Authorities and the
Diplomatic Corps were gathered. A greeting
address by President Christofias and a speech
by the Pope followed.
At 10.45 p.m. the Pope visited St. Maronas
Primary School in Anthoupolis. There, the
Holy Father met with the Catholic Communities
of Cyprus. A special ceremony was held,
including a welcoming address by the Director
of the School, the unveiling of a plaque
for the Papal visit, a greeting address by
Youssef Soueif the Maronite Archbishop of
Cyprus, a Liturgy of the Word, and an artistic
performance, organised by school children,
which illustrated the history and the heritage
of the Communities. Before the beginning of
the cultural program, the Pope Benedict XVI
blessed olive trees that would be planted in
the occupied Maronite villages Kormaki-