New Patriarch of Serbia

Serbian Orthodox Church elects moderate patriarch

Correspondents say Bishop Irinej is seen as open to modernisation The Serbian Orthodox Church has chosen the moderate Bishop of Nis, Irinej Gavrilovica, as its new patriarch. The 80-year-old was elected from three candidates initially chosen in a secret ballot by the Holy Synod. His rivals were considered hardline nationalists. He succeeds the highly popular Patriarch Pavle, who died at the age of 95 in November after a long illness. The Serbian Orthodox Church, which has about 11 million members worldwide, is still influential in national politics. Under Patriarch Pavle it strongly supported the government in its efforts to stop the former province of Kosovo from gaining independence. Thousands followed Patriarch Pavle's coffin through Belgrade in November Bishop Irinej, who is seen as open to modernisation, will become the 45th Serbian patriarch when he is enthroned on Saturday. Correspondents say he may encourage a rapprochement with the Roman Catholic Church, which could see Pope Benedict XVI visiting Serbia in future. After being elected, he told the Tanjug news agency that his election to "this honourable and difficult duty" was "God's will and the will of the Holy Synod". Most of Serbia's seven million people are Orthodox Christians. Half a million people lined the streets of Belgrade to pay respects to Patriarch Pavle during his funeral procession.