BOSTON – Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago was a member of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s delegation that traveled to the Vatican for the Thronal Feast of the Church of Old Rome, the feast day of its founder, Apostle Peter.

The delegation was led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and also included Deacon Oikoumenios, the undersecretary of the Holy Synod.

The delegation was received at the Vatican with honors and they attended Mass at Peter’s Basilica on the main day of the Feast, where Pope Francis and the head of the Patriarchal Delegation, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who was wearing an episcopal mantle and carrying a pastoral staff, co-officiated at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis, at the beginning of his speech, welcomed the members of the Patriarchal delegation and thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for sending the delegation and for his brotherly love towards the Roman Catholic Church.

Metropolitan Emmanuel read the congratulatory letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to which Pope Francis responded appropriately, and the customary exchange of gifts took place. It is noted that a few years ago, Pope Francis, on his own initiative and despite the objections of many Roman Catholics, donated to the Ecumenical Patriarchate a relic of Apostle Peter.

The patriarchal delegation was also given a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

It has been established over the years that there are exchanges of delegations between Constantinople and Rome during the Thronal Feasts of the two churches. In a gesture of respect and as an expression of brotherly kinship, Pope Francis bent down and kissed the episcopal medallion of Metropolitan Emmanuel.