Greece Remembers Pope Francis' Return of the Parthenon Fragments

Athens, April 23, 2025 – On the occasion of the passing of Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church,  we recall the momentous day on 24 March 2023 when Greece welcomed the repatriation of three ancient sculpture fragments from the Parthenon—a horse and two male heads—previously held by the Vatican Museums, in a ceremony led by Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

The return marked a significant step in Greece’s 40-year campaign to reclaim the Elgin Marbles, a collection of Parthenon sculptures taken by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, currently housed in the British Museum.

At the time the Vatican described the repatriation as an ecumenical “donation” to Greece’s Orthodox Church, a gesture that would intensify pressure on the UK to negotiate the return of the marbles. Mendoni emphasized Greece’s willingness to loan ancient artefacts to the British Museum to “fill any gaps” if the sculptures are returned, signaling a potential compromise.

Carved in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon sculptures are considered a cornerstone of Greece’s cultural heritage. Removed before Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, their repatriation has been a contentious issue. Supporters of the British Museum have argued that returning the sculptures could undermine global museum collections and cultural diversity.  However, there have been ongoing discussions between the Chair of Trustees of the British Museum,  George Osborne, and Greek authorities for some time now to see if a resolution can finally be found. 

The Vatican repatriation followed the return in 2022 of a Parthenon marble fragment, depicting the foot of the goddess Artemis, from a museum in Palermo, Sicily. Bishop Brian Farrell, a Vatican secretary for promoting Christian unity, led the delegation to Athens and noted that the return of the three fragments was discussed during Pope Francis’ 2021 visit to Greece.

The ceremony underscored Greece’s renewed push for the reunification of its ancient heritage, with the spotlight once again on the British Museum to respond to growing international calls for resolution.

It is hoped that the late Pontiff's grand gesture will continue to light the way, eventually paving the way for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.