On the occasion of the official visit by His Holiness Ecumencal Partriarch Bartholomew I to France from December 10th to 12th 2012, during which he was, among others, received by the President of the Republic, M. François Hollande, the Prime Minister, M. Jean-Marc Ayrault, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, M. Laurent Fabius, and the Minister of the Interior, M. Manuel Valls, His Holiness paid a fraternal visit to Archbishop Gabriel at his episcopal seat in the rue Daru in Paris on Tuesday December 11th. Being aware of the Archbishop's health problems during the last many months, the Patriarch expressed his personal wishes for his restoration to health and his support.
Accompanied by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and Bishop Athenagoras of Sinope, Patriarch Bartholomew, after venerating the altar in the Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky and giving a brief address, met with Archbishop Gabriel in his rooms. The latter had Father Jean Gueit, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Vice-President of the Archdiocesan Council, M. Michel Sollogoub, Secretary of the Archdiocesan Council, M. Alexandre Victoroff, the Diocesan Treasurer and Hierodeacon Athanasius, his secretary, with him. During this very warm conversation, His Holiness confirmed the Patriarchate of Constantinople's deep attachment to the Archdiocese and reaffirmed his determination to keep it under his benign and fatherly protection.
Paris, December 12th 2012