The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II, welcomed the new U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, on Thursday, November 13, in a meeting marked by cordiality and mutual respect.
The visit was of a ceremonial nature, following the long-standing tradition that each newly appointed American ambassador pays an official courtesy call to the head of the Church of Greece.
Ambassador Guilfoyle arrived at the Archdiocese shortly after noon and was warmly greeted by the Archbishop, who told her, “May God bless you.” Guilfoyle thanked him for his hospitality, expressing her appreciation for the warm welcome.
During their brief exchange before the cameras, Guilfoyle shared a personal note, revealing that her son was particularly excited about her meeting with the Archbishop, as it would allow them to attend church together in Greece. She added that she promised her son to participate in as many services as possible.
The Ambassador also spoke about her first telephone conversation with Archbishop Ieronymos, saying he was the first person she reached out to after assuming her duties. She expressed gratitude for his encouragement and described feeling a “spiritual connection” with him from that very first conversation.
Guilfoyle requested to be involved in upcoming charitable initiatives organized by the Church, underlining her intention to support philanthropic work in Greece. Speaking to reporters afterward, she described the encounter as “a wonderful meeting” and voiced her commitment to assisting the Church’s humanitarian efforts and institutions.
Archbishop Ieronymos, visibly moved, said he was deeply pleased by the Ambassador’s visit. He also took the opportunity to send a message to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to work toward global peace and to help bring an end to wars.
Additionally, the Archbishop asked for assistance regarding ongoing challenges faced by the historic Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, a key center of Orthodoxy and Christianity.
The meeting lasted just under an hour, with Ambassador Guilfoyle departing the Archdiocese at around 1:00 p.m.
