ATHENS – Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the now late Pope Francis showed “generosity” in deciding to return fragments of the Parthenon frieze in 2023, saying it demonstrated “a tangible example of his sincere desire to follow the ecumenical path of truth.”
In March 2023, the Vatican Museum returned three fragments in the form of a “donation” by Pope Francis to Archbishop Ieronymos of Greece, “as a concrete sign of his sincere desire to follow in the ecumenical path of truth.”
The sculptures are remnants of a 160-meter-long (520-foot) frieze that ran around the outer walls of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom, while the British Museum refuses to return those stolen by Lord Elgin.
“We will never forget the generosity with which he offered to Greece the three fragments of the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, which belonged to the collections of the Vatican Museums, as a tangible example of his sincere desire to follow the ecumenical path of truth, demonstrating in practice how culture can contribute decisively to dialogue, peace, and reconciliation of communities,” Lina Mendoni said in her message.
“The prestige that he rightfully acquired during his lifetime and the love with which people surrounded him, all over the world, are transformed with his death into an indelible and weighty legacy, worthy of any continuation,” she said.
The Acropolis Museum also expressed its appreciation. “The President, the Board of Directors and the General Director of the Acropolis Museum express their deepest sorrow for the death of the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and their sincere gratitude for his practical support in the just struggle for the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures, an act that is an example to be imitated,” the museum said.
