Greek Church says Pope to visit to highlight refugee crisis

The Church of Greece on Tuesday said it had accepted a suggestion from Pope Francis that he visit Greece to highlight the plight of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict.

The Holy Synod, the ruling body of the Greek Orthodox Church, said it had suggested the Pontiff visit the Greek island of Lesvos, the Aegean island where hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants have arrived in the past year.

An official of the Church of Greece told Reuters that the visit could take place on April 14-15. Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew would also be invited, the official said.