Archbishop Ghattas Hazim and Bishop Aldo Berardi make joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos

Archbishop Ghattas Hazim and Bishop Aldo Berardi traveled together on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos from September 6 to 9, 2026. Archbishop Hazim serves as the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Kuwait and Baghdad, while Bishop Berardi leads the Catholic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which includes Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The pilgrimage included a delegation of priests, a seminarian, and a layman. During the trip, the group visited twelve of the twenty monasteries on the Greek peninsula, receiving welcomes at the Simonopetra and Vatopedi monasteries.

Bishop Berardi noted that the trip reflects the positive relationship between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in Kuwait, where both leaders serve their respective pastoral communities.