The visit seemed impossible. But earlier this year when Greek President Stephanopoulos visited the Pope in Rome, he invited him to come to Athens. The Orthodox Church had little choice. To avoid clashes with the government the Holy Synod agreed, making clear with a public statement that the Pope of Rome was coming as a head of state to make a personal pilgrimage. Greek Orthodoxy has always rejected the West, since the time of the Byzantine Empire.
Schoolbooks are still full of resentment.
Children are brought up to hate the Catholic Church. Anti-Catholic atmosphere became more acute recently with the question of Oriental Catholics and the recent war in the Balkans. Greek Catholics, who have existed for centuries, have never been accepted by the Greek Orthodox community. In 1900 under Stalin they were incorporated into the Orthodox Church. With the fall of Communism they reclaimed their properties, which had been confiscated by the state.