SW News: Following his arrival at the Presidential Palace, Pope Francis was received by a guard of honor by troops dressed in traditional garb as the national anthems of Greece and the Vatican were played. Following his brief greeting with Greece President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Holy Father met Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and then he greeted the delegations. He then had a private meeting with the President.

In his first address to the Greek people, Pope Francis emphasized the significance of democracy and neighborly love in the country, calling them "necessary pillars for a renewed humanism." Addressing the authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps in the Presidential Palace, the Holy Father, said the surrounding water reminds us of Greece's mission as a bridge uniting diverse people. Pope Francis also emphasized that our gaze should be directed to what is on high and towards others.

Given that Greece is the birthplace of democracy, the pontiff said that politics should be the art of the common good, with the weaker strata of society receiving priority. Rather than moving left or right, politics should move ahead in the direction of social justice, from partisanship to participation, from solely supporting one party to actively working for the sake of all.

Addressing the migrant concerns, the Holy Father noted that Greece is a major entry point into the European Union for asylum seekers fleeing conflict and poverty in their native countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. He compared the fate of today's migrants and refugees, many of whom have died at sea, to a "horrendous modern Odyssey" in his speech at the presidential palace.

The Pope stated that suffering brings us closer together. Recognizing that we are all part of the same vulnerable humanity will help create a more integrated and peaceful future. Amid enormous adversity, the Pope said there has also been a remarkable rise in solidarity, which the local Catholic Church is glad to continue to contribute to, believing that it is a benefit that should not be overlooked once the storm has passed.

Pope Francis concluded his address by thanking and encouraging the authorities to lead Greece in openness, inclusion, and justice. He hoped that Athens would continue to send out the message that we should look up and outward, that democracy should be the antidote to tyranny, and that individualism and indifference should be replaced by compassion for others, the poor, and all creation.