So, the Pope visits Georgia (the country) where the great majority is Orthodox and gets recognized as someone wanting to take a larger market share.
BBC: Georgia Pope: Tbilisi stadium largely empty for papal Mass
BBC: Georgia Pope: Tbilisi stadium largely empty for papal Mass
Why the boycott?Can't have a hostile takeover and have to give up the funny hats, not to mention wives! :)
According to the Associated Press, only a few thousand people attended the Mass in the Meshki stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000.
The Orthodox patriarchate said on its website: "As long as there are dogmatic differences between our churches, Orthodox believers will not participate in their prayers".
One Georgian priest told AP it was a protest against Catholic attempts to convert Orthodox Christians.