I posted here that I would like to have seen someone from the Eastern rites become pope:

But, the ecumenical side of me would like to see a Cardinal from the Eastern Rite (or Greek/Byzantine) Catholic Churches.

Pope Francis was the cardinal for the Ordinariate for the Faithful of Eastern Rite.

And now?

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I will attend Pope Francis’s inaugural Mass. The Ecumenical Patriarchate Press Office informed AsiaNews about the decision, noting that this is the first time such an event occurs since the Catholic-Orthodox split in 1054, an important sign for Christian unity.

Buy my book, or I will pray against you.

You don’t want me to pray against you.

Boom.

Seriously, though, this is great news.

Related articles

• His All-Holiness congratulates newly-elected Pope Francis (palamas.info)
• Two Chairs of Peter: Reform, Orthodoxy and the Papacy (orthodoxyandheterodoxy.org)
• Some ecumenical reactions to Pope Benedict’s abdication (hughosb.wordpress.com)