Protravel Executive Personally Overseeing Travel for Ecumenical Patriarch and Accompanying Delegation for Historical May Meeting with Pope Francis in Jerusalem
New York, NY (May 8, 2014) — Today, it was announced that Protravel International has been selected to be involved in the historic Apostolic Pilgrimage to Jerusalem scheduled for May 23 to 27.
Protravel is overseeing every aspect of the travel arrangements for His All Holiness Bartholomew for his meeting with Pope Francis in Jerusalem later this month. Protravel Senior Vice President Peter Vlitas, who holds a position of Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate within the Orthodox Church, is personally overseeing each detail of the journey that will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1964 meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.
The 1964 meeting marked the first time since 1438 that the historic spiritual leaders of the Western and Eastern Churches met face-to-face. The idea for this May’s meeting originated during the March 2013 enthronement of Pope Francis, which was attended by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew – the first documented time in history that a Primate of Constantinople attended the enthronement of the Primate of Rome.
“Protravel is proud to be part of this extraordinary historical event. We are truly humbled to have been selected to handle all travel arrangements not only for Our All Holiness Bartholomew, but also for an accompanying delegation that includes influential business leaders from around the world,” said Vlitas.
With an award-winning reputation, Protravel International is a recognized leader in corporate and luxury travel. Protravel was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in New York City. With annual sales reaching over $870 million, it has grown into a network of 22 branch locations throughout the United States and London, plus a network of hosted agents throughout the U.S.
