Patriarch Bartholomew thanks Trump for his efforts to establish peace in Ukraine
This information was reported by Serhii Shumylo, the director of the International Institute of the Athonite Legacy, referencing the press service of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The meeting in the Oval Office took place in a cordial atmosphere. The President expressed great interest in various initiatives and ministries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as in the lives of Christians in Turkey.
During the conversation, the Patriarch thanked the President for his initiatives and collaborative efforts to promote peace worldwide, particularly in Ukraine. The discussion also included the situation of Christians in the Middle East.
The upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Turkey was mentioned, where he will join the Ecumenical Patriarch in commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. US Vice President J.D. Vance, who is Catholic, expressed significant interest in the meeting.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was accompanied at the meeting by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Archbishops Theodoretos of Laodicea and Maximos of Silivria, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, the Director of the Special Patriarchal Office, and Alexander Karloutsos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne.
The President was accompanied by the Vice President and Reince Priebus, a member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Also present was Michael Kratsios, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and advisor to the US President on science and technology.
As Shumylo pointed out, Patriarch Bartholomew advocates for Ukraine's interests and the resolution of the war at all official meetings, condemning the actions of the Russian Federation and the Russian Orthodox Church.
