Pope Leon XIV himself characterized his visit to Turkey as historically significant, speaking to journalists from the plane that transported him yesterday to Ankara, where he met as head of state of the Vatican with the President of Turkey. Today, Orthodox and Catholic Christians are meeting him in Constantinople as a religious leader, heading the planned three-day interfaith meetings with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Pope Leon & Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: discussions on Halki Theological Seminary
Among the hierarchs who will participate in these meetings is Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes’ Islands, who spoke to parapolitika.gr and argued that relations between the two churches are very good. Indicative is that the Vatican has supported the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s request for the reopening of the Halki Theological Seminary. Yesterday, the American ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barak, met with the Ecumenical Patriarch and according to information, this issue was also discussed. “I want to believe that the President of the Republic has good intentions regarding this matter. Let us hope it becomes reality,” Metropolitan Dimitrios tells us, who today will attend the talks between the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch, where discussions about the Halki Seminary may not be excluded.
As Metropolitan Dimitrios emphasizes, “the relations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Roman Catholic Church have been good throughout this period,” while he recalls visits to the Phanar by Pope Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, with the latest being Pope Francis. All always followed protocol. However, one visit was different: “The only thing I remember, as a young person, was when discomfort was created by the then minister Sabri Çağlayangil, when Paul VI prayed in Hagia Sophia. Beyond that, I don’t remember any other discomfort from Turkish leadership regarding papal visits,” he says and describes the current atmosphere in Turkey: “What I can emphasize is that there are draconian security measures. I don’t know if the Pope expressed the desire to visit Hagia Sophia. Perhaps it’s related to the construction work being done there. And I don’t know if this is related to any possible desire of his.”
Goal to strengthen theological dialogue
The leaders of both churches are expected to strengthen theological dialogue. “The effort being made since 1980 onwards, when official theological dialogue between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism was inaugurated with the decision of all Orthodox churches, is certainly something difficult. But it continues. And it continues with the will of all Orthodox Churches, something that is greatly enhanced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Now, human relations are very good, as you know, and our current Patriarch Bartholomew has excellent relations with the Roman Catholic world. You should note that he has repeatedly visited the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, where he also studied and has personal ties. He honored with his presence all the great moments of the Roman Catholic Church and its Primates throughout all these recent years of his Patriarchate, and relations continue to be very good. There are certainly elements that show this improvement in relations between the two worlds for many years, such as the churches given by the Roman Catholic Church for use by Orthodox Churches of the Ecumenical Throne in Europe. Recently, a beautiful church of the Theotokos in Smyrna was granted by order of the late Pope Francis to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. All these things, you see, speak of the good and beneficial relationship between the two Churches. Now I will dare to add that, beyond this, the Roman Catholic Church has no involvement in our existing problems.”
These problems concern respect for Hagia Sophia, whose management is problematic, and the request for reopening the Halki Seminary, for which there may soon be some decisions. Furthermore, Mr. Dimitrios argues to parapolitika.gr that “the current relations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Turkish government are good. I have said many times personally that this is the only governance in recent many years since the 1930s and 1940s onwards where the general approach of the Turkish State under Mr. Erdogan toward our issues and toward the Ecumenical Patriarchate institutionally has been the best of all previous ones.”
The hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne will today be in Nicaea, where the ceremony for celebrating the completion of 1,700 years since the first Ecumenical Council will take place. On Saturday and Sunday they will welcome the Pope at the Phanar, who will attend the great throne feast of Saint Andrew in the church of Saint George.
