U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew yesterday, during a brief visit to Turkey that angered Turkish officials.
Popmeo Tweeted that he was “honored” to meet Bartholomew and called the Ecumenical Patriarchate a “key partner” as the Trump Administration continues to “champion religious freedom around the world.”
Pompeo also tweeted photographs of his meeting with Bartholomew, as well as visits to St. George Cathedral with his wife Susan, inside the Patriarchal compound in the Phanar neighborhood of Istanbul.
According to a press release by the Patriarchate, the hour-long discussion focused on issues that concern the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Community of Constantinople, and the Orthodox Christian faithful in the country.
They also discussed Orthodoxy in the world and the progression of inter-Christian dialogue, as well as the dire situation of Christian communities in the Middle East “which have been severely tested by war, while a large number have experienced uprooting and exile,” according to the Patriarchate.
Bartholomew also spoke about the work of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Greek diaspora, in general, which he called “a brilliant and dynamic part of American society.”
In addition to Pompeo, his wife and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield, present in the meetings were Metropolitans Emmanuel of France and Maximos of Silivria, the V. Rev. Archimandrite Joachim, Dn. Kallinikos Chasapis, who is currently a deacon at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Mr. Panteleimon Vingas, an advisor to the Patriarch.
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3 comments
This is how it’s done. The Secretary of State Pompeo of the Trump administration paid his Holiness a visit with honor by meeting with him at the Patriacate. He did not care how this angered the Turks, espacially Erdogan. Unlike Obama who actually snuck the Patriarcharch into the back door of his (Obama’s) hotel like a call girl because he did not want to offend Erdogan. Thank you Mr. Pompeo for showing the respect our religous Father deserves.
Perhaps that is true, even with your exageration. However, during those 8 years Erdogan was kept in his place and practiced more democratic and western policies, and more tolerant towards foreiners and our church. In the last 4 years he has had free reign to become the diactator, racist, nationalist, and aggressor, that was praised by the current administration. He made Agia Sophia into mosque. The fate of other churches and archeological treasures are also in jeopardy.
Patriarch Bartholomew has proven to be
truly feckless; he easily gave away Hagia Sophia
and doesn’t defend the Gospel, and now
Bart sends to
America a total embarrassment for an
Archbishop who should be fired