On 5 July 2023, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije received Monsignor Francesco Savino, the Vice President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and the Bishop of the Diocese of Cassano all’Jonio at the headquarters of the Patriarchate in Belgrade.

During the conversation, conducted in the spirit of Christian understanding, the interlocutors emphasized the need for mutual support in facing the challenges that contemporary Europe encounters.

Patriarch Porfirije acquainted his guest with the joint efforts of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in establishing and advancing mutual cooperation on evangelical foundations, emphasizing primarily the importance of prayer as a prerequisite for every good deed.

Monsignor Savino emphasized the need to continue the ongoing dialogue between the two Churches, both at the ecumenical and local levels.

The reception was attended by Vicar Bishops Sava of Marča – Head of the Office of the Serbian Patriarch, and Ilarion of Novo Brdo – President of the Committee for Religious Education; as well as Monsignor Mihai Gergel – Director of Caritas Serbia, Don Mario Marino – Director of Caritas Cassano all’Jonio, and Marina Kostić – Coordinator of Caritas Serbia.