A Holy Kiss From Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Jesus says in True Life in God May 2,2001
” When Would I See The House Of The East Greet The House Of The West With A Holy Kiss?”
During the Doxology in Constantinople when the Ecumenical Patriarch welcomed the Pope, the Holy Father asked His All Holiness to bless him and the faithful present. The Ecumenical Patriarch did bless and then the Pope insisted that the Patriarch bless him personally as he bowed his head. His All Holiness gently kissed the Holy Father on his head as a blessing of brotherly love.
Patriarch Bartholomew Kisses the Head of Pope Francis
Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi recounted to journalists in a Nov. 29 press briefing.
“It’s not the first time, I already saw the Pope asking for the blessing of another brother, but this familiar way of the Patriarch kissing Pope’s head (is a first).”
The emotional moment came at the end of a busy second day during Pope Francis’ Nov. 28-30 visit to Turkey.