While the Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia is in crisis, at around 10 am a bishop and a friar travel to the north of the island to meet with two communities. A journey of at least an hour passing through entirely Muslim territory. The first visit is to the community of Kyrenia - at the Church dedicated to Saint Catherine. And in the afternoon the Community of Saint Cyril. The island, which had not had a Catholic bishop for almost 400 years, now has a Franciscan, consecrated on March 16, 2024 in Nicosia, as the new Latin-rite Catholic ordinary of the Island of Cyprus. HE. MGR. BRUNO VARRIANO Bishop of Cyprus We truly live in a beautiful moment in the Catholic Church of Cyprus, a beautiful union. I can say this with all my heart. I'm very, very happy here. With his arrival, unity grew with his Orthodox brothers, as well as with the Maronite Catholic Church and with the religious confessions that were present at his episcopal ordination. He feels this as a sign of welcome and unity. HE. MGR. BRUNO VARRIANO Bishop of Cyprus The life of the Latin bishop of Cyprus is always linked to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. We work a lot here because we are a growing church, with the increase in immigrants and refugees arriving on the island. We have many brothers who ask to become Catholic Christians and begin to follow a path of Christian initiation in the various parishes and this we can say brings us a lot of hope. While we follow him in his day as bishop, 14 young people receive the sacrament of Chrism from him. A very beautiful and enthusiastic youth celebrates the joy of being the church, welcoming their pastor with sincere affection. It is also nice to see how they rush to confession, to receive confirmation well, as true followers of Jesus. And right there, under the tree, a place of encounter with the mercy of God. We are currently working together with the parish priests with groups of teenagers. Mons. Bruno talks to us about the pastoral initiative that brings together hundreds of teenagers who participate in the activities carried out in the parish. The name of the very suggestive group: Sant Barnaba. This year the plan is to go on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and next year we plan to take them to Rome for the Jubilee. HE. MGR. BRUNO VARRIANO Bishop of Cyprus It is a Church that walks in joy! We have beautiful communities, full of joy, enthusiasm and they want to see the bishop. My mission as Franciscan bishop of Cyprus is truly to bring this fraternal unity with all the Churches. This year for the first time we renewed our priestly promises with all the Catholic, Maronite and Latin clergy and we have many moments of meeting with all the religious of the Latin Church and the Maronite Church. His presence marks a new chapter in the life of the Church of Cyprus. HE. MGR. BRUNO VARRIANO Bishop of Cyprus After 400 years it is not a bishop who comes from outside to bring power, to have power over Cyprus, as it was 400 years ago. Now the bishop is a friar, a priest who lived here and who they really welcomed to be bishop. That's why it was very nice for me. I think we must continue along this line of dialogue, and the Catholic Church has this charism. A church following in the footsteps of Jesus that also seeks out those most in need. Every week mass is celebrated in the Fornara refugee camp which becomes a church for the refugees. HE. MGR. BRUNO VARRIANO Bishop of Cyprus Where there is the bishop there is the Church. It is a family church that walks and we can say that Cyprus with the Franciscans, my brothers in my heart, the dioceses who work here, the incarnate verb, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Franciscan nuns, the nuns of Sri Lanka. The Latin religious people in Cyprus are a beautiful family together with the Maronite Church with the priests, the monks and also the nuns and with the Orthodox Church, the Armenian Church a richness of our Church of Cyprus and we want to live this testimony of unity in diversity. Monsignor Bruno is impressed by the smile and enthusiasm of the people, despite the difficulties, which are countless, both for Cypriots and for immigrants and refugees. HE. MGR. BRUNO VARRIANO Bishop of Cyprus I would like with the grace of God, with the intercession of Saint Francis, Saint Anthony and especially Saint Barnabas, called here Saint Barnabas the Cypriot, and Saint Paul, with their intercession and that of the Virgin Mary, to be able to serve these people of God, truly using all my strength and with all of myself. Also in Nicosia, the first school in Cyprus was founded in 1646 by the Franciscan Friars! An excellence for the integral education of the new generations. We will see it in the next episode. Read More