As Pope Francis usually does, during his visit an unplanned small meeting wasn’t lacking. In fact, after the Mass in Nicosia’s Stadium, the Pontiff had two brief meetings that weren’t included in the trip’s official program. On his return to the Nunciature, he met briefly with the Grand Rabbi of Cyprus. Through him, the Pope sent greetings to the Cypriot Jewish community, which, according to estimates, in 2018 numbered some 4,500 faithful. The Rabbi gave the Holy Father a modern seven-branch candelabrum (menorah).

After his meeting with the grand Rabbi, Pope Francis greeted the Director of the Cyprus prison, who brought him the greetings and a present from the inmates, among whom are illegal imprisoned immigrants.

Following a private lunch in the Nunciature, at 4:00 pm local time, the Holy Father held the last official meeting of the initial program. In Nicosia’s parish church of the Holy Cross, he met with a group of immigrants and prayed an ecumenical prayer with them.

According to an announcement of the Cypriot Government, it is expected that the Pontiff will take a few refugees to Rome with him, as he did on his first trip to Lesbos.

The Grand Rabbi

In 2003 Rabbi Arie Zeev and Shaindel Raskin together with their four children (Menachem Mendel, Shneor Zalman, Chaya Batya Yente, and Libah) relocated to Cyprus in an effort to introduce Jewish life into Cyprus. Later in 2008, the fifth child Malkah was born in Cyprus. They continue to reach out to Jews living in Cyprus through a wide variety of classes and programs designed to reach all ages and levels of Jewish learning. Activities include discussion groups on Jewish Issues, weekly Talmud & Torah Study Groups, Special Holiday Programs, Jewish E-mail Service and website, Shabbat Meals, and Tourist assistance.

Translation by Virginia M. Forrester