Athens, 4 December 2021 (MIA) – Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the perseverance that led to the Prespa Agreement signed between Greece and North Macedonia, during his address to Greek authorities, leaders and diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Athens, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports. The Pope mentioned current challenges, the climate, the pandemic, the common market, the migrant issue and widespread forms of poverty, drawing a parallel with Homer’s Odysseus, pointing out that these are “challenges that call for concrete and active cooperation.” “The international community needs this, in order to open up paths of peace through a multilateralism that will not end up being stifled by excessive nationalistic demands. Politics needs this, in order to put common needs ahead of private interests. It might seem a utopia, a hopeless journey over a turbulent sea, a long and unachievable odyssey. Yet, as the great Homeric epic tells us, travelling over stormy seas is often our only choice. And it will achieve its goal if it is driven by the desire to come to home port, by the effort to move forward together, by nóstos álgos, homesickness. Here I would like to renew my appreciation for the perseverance that led to the Prespa Agreement signed between this Republic and that of North Macedonia,” said Pope Francis. He spoke of the migrant issue, noting that the migrants are the protagonists of “a horrendous modern Odyssey”, adding that “Europe also continues to temporize: the European Community, prey to forms of nationalistic self-interest, rather than being an engine of solidarity, appears at times blocked and uncoordinated.” “In the past, ideological conflicts prevented the building of bridges between Eastern and Western Europe; today the issue of migration has led to breaches between South and North as well,” the Pope pointed out, urging that attention be paid to those in greatest need, so that, in proportion to each country’s means, they will be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated, in full respect for their human rights and dignity. He said that “without Athens and without Greece, Europe and the world would not be what they are. They would be less wise, less happy”, ending his address with the words “May God bless Greece” in Greek. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou also delivered an address at the Presidential Palace in Athens, referring to the pandemic, climate change and the migrant issue. Pope Francis arrived in Greece on Saturday morning for a three-day visit. He held meeting with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He is also meeting with Orthodox Archbishop Ieronymos II on Saturday. On Sunday, the Pope will pay a short visit to a migration camp on Lesbos.