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VATICAN CITY, 28 JUN 2010 (VIS) – The Pope today received in audience the members of a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, who have come to Rome for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul Apostles.The delegation, sent by His Holiness Bartholomew I, is composed of His Eminence Gennadios (Limouris), metropolitan of Sassima, joint secretary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and vice moderator of the central committee of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland; His Eminence Bartholomaios (Ioannis Kessidis), bishop of Arianzos, assistant to the metropolitan of...

Benedict XVI Lauds Ecumenical Progress Greets Bartholomew I for Feast of St. Andrew VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says the relationship between Catholics and Orthodox is going deeper and he expressed his trust that the day will come when both Churches will share the celebration of the Eucharist.The Pope affirmed this in a message that he sent to the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, on the occasion of today's feast of St. Andrew."[W]e reflect with joy and thanksgiving that the relations between us are entering progressively deeper levels as we renew our commitment to the path...

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 24, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The intervention from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople at the synod of bishops marked an ecumenical milestone, says a representative of the Orthodox Church of Greece. Archimandrite Ignatios Sotiriadis is a fraternal delegate at the world Synod of Bishops on the Word of God, which ends Sunday. The Church of Greece representative spoke with ZENIT about the intervention from Bartholomew I, given as a homily Oct. 18 in a celebration of vespers together with Benedict XVI. Q: You have been participating in the entire synod. What have you heard from the synod fathers...

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- One of the topics mentioned in a good number of the synod presentations was that of the saints and blessed who offer the Church concrete examples of lives rooted in the sacred Scriptures and the living Word of God. When Archbishop Angelo Amato, the new prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, addressed the synod Tuesday, he offered a very graphic image of lives rooted in the sacred Scriptures: For more than 2,000 years men and women, old and young, wise and ignorant, in the East as in the West, applied themselves to the...

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, patriarch Bartholomew, at far right seated, prays with Pope Benedict XVI, at far left, in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, Saturday Oct. 18, 2008. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew is calling it "an historic event," after being the first to speak to the bishops of the Catholic Church gathered for a synod. For his part, Benedict XVI said, "Your fathers are also our fathers, and ours are yours: if we have the same fathers, how can we...

World's Orthodox leaders, setting aside disputes, join in pledge for unity Phanar, Oct. 13, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The world's Orthodox leaders, coming together under the leadership of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, have joined in a strong statement of support for Orthodox unity. Setting aside disputes that have strained relations among them-- and between Constantinople and Moscow-- the Orthodox leaders affirmed, in a joint statement released October 12: The Orthodox Church, having the understanding of the authentic interpretation of the teaching of the Apostle to the Nations, in both peaceful and difficult times of its two-thousand year historical course, can...

On this feast of Rome's Christian founders -- the 57th anniversary of Joseph Ratzinger's ordination to the priesthood -- Uncle Bart remained at Papa Ratzi's side as 40 new metropolitans from across the globe received the symbol of their office, the pallium. Among the prelates who came forward to receive the traditional lambswool band were the recently-named archbishops of Nairobi, Moscow, Jerusalem, Taipei, Lille, Minsk, Mobile, Halifax, Baltimore and St Paul and Minneapolis. With the statue of St Peter in the nave of the Vatican basilica decked out in its usual finery for the day, the morning liturgy also...

Holy Mass has begun in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of Sts. Peter & Paul. The old new form of papal pallium is being used.   The Holy Father has shifted away from the archeologically correct, but odd, ancient form of pallium which Benedict XVI began to use at the time of his "inauguration" in April 2005.  This new but still ancient form of pallium represents an organic midway point between the lond, drapy stole-like pallium and the modern style, used by all the modern popes until Benedict XVI and which is still imposed by the Pope on...

Vatican City, Jun 24, 2008 / 10:40 am (CNA).- The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced that on June 29, the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate the Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica.  The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is also scheduled to participate in the ceremony.Bartholomew I and the Holy Father will deliver the homily, recite the profession of faith and impart the final blessing. The Pontiff will concelebrate with the new Catholic metropolitan archbishops, upon whom he will impose the pallium.Among the 43 archbishops receiving palliums...

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Bartholomew I, prayed together Thursday after meeting for private talks, the Vatican said. Bartholomew, who holds the title of Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) recited together with Benedict Latin versions of the Our Father and Hail Mary prayers, news reports said. The Vatican did not immediately provide details on the talks. During the visit, which marks the third meeting between the pontiff and the patriarch, Bartholomew was accompanied by a delegation including Ioannis of Pergamo, the Orthodox president of the Joint International Commission for Theological...

The ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew I, after years of insistence, was finally given the possibility to celebrate mass inside of what is, according to the State, only a museum. A saint which is unknown in Turkey, but is origin of Santa Claus. Istanbul (AsiaNews) – Since 99 % of Turkey is Muslim, Christmas is not an official holiday, though it is not prohibited. For the few Christians, December 25th is a regular day in which they go to school or to work and are then left with no choice but to celebrate either in private or in the few available churches....

NICOSIA, Cyprus, AUG. 21, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Orthodox Church of Cyprus announced that the Turkish government cancelled a visit between two Christian leaders in Ankara. The meeting between Chrysostomos II, Orthodox archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus, and Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, was to take place last Friday. Chrysostomos II declared that with this refusal Ankara "has shown its real face," a press release from the Cyprus Embassy to the Holy See reported. He is ready "to edit a letter addressed to the Holy See and to the World Council of Churches, in order to inform them,"...

A group of ex army officers, now retired, plotted to assassinate the ecumenical Patriarch: this is what has emerged from an investigation carried out by Istanbul’s public attorney’s office, and brought to light by a report in Aksam newspaper. The group known as the Association of National Forces was led by Bekir Ozturk: the hard drive of his computer revealed the entire project which also consisted of the assassination of the Armenian Patriarch Mesrob and of a Jewish businessman. This network of retired army officials are believed to be in contact with diverse well rooted nationalist groups on Turkish soil.  What...

Benedict XVI's Evaluation of Turkish Trip "The Affection and Cordiality That Surrounded Me …" VATICAN CITY, DEC. 6, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at today's general audience, dedicated to recall his apostolic journey to Turkey last week. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: As is already customary after every apostolic journey, in this general audience I would like to review the different stages of the pilgrimage I made to Turkey from Tuesday to Friday of last week. A visit that, as you know, did not seem easy from several points of view,...

ISTANBUL, Turkey, DEC. 1, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople "is of incalculable value in the process of reconciliation," says Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I. In this interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire, the patriarch revealed that he made an unexpected ecumenical proposal to the Pope. Q: What can you tell us about this journey? Bartholomew I: Above all, I must say that I truly thank His Holiness for his visit to us on the feast day of St. Andrew. It is a truly very significant step forward in our relations, and undertaken in the framework...

ISTANBUL, November 30, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Are Christianity’s biggest churches heading toward a holy alliance? In a historic step today, Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual head of Orthodox Christians, celebrated mass together at Istanbul’s St. George Church. They then signed a joint declaration calling for “uniting our efforts to preserve Christian roots, traditions and values” in Europe. Benedict called the millennium-old division of the world’s 1 billion Roman Catholics and 250 million Orthodox a “scandal.” "The divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world and an obstacle to the proclamation of the...

ISTANBUL, Turkey, DEC. 1, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The richness of the universal Church, manifested in Turkey with numerous rites, was reflected in the country's farewell to Benedict XVI at the end of his four-day visit. After blessing a statue of Pope John XXIII, who as Archbishop Angelo Roncalli was papal representative in Turkey, Benedict XVI presided over a Eucharistic celebration today in the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, in the company of the country's Catholic bishops. Also present were Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Armenian Apostolic Patriarch Mesrob II, as well as representatives of the other ecclesial communities...

President of Religious Affairs Calls for Common Efforts ANKARA, Turkey, NOV. 29, 2006 (Zenit.org).- In his welcome address to Benedict XVI, Turkey's president of religious affairs appealed to all religious leaders for common efforts to build peace and to resolve the crisis of values that grips humanity. In his intervention Tuesday at the Religious Affairs Directorate ("Diyanet") prior to the Pope's address, Ali Bardakoglu said that "religions are surely sources of peace" and that "from Abraham to Moses, from Jesus to Mohammed, all the prophets have spoken of this message of peace and salvation and made themselves bearers of this...

Pope Benedict XVI has put the brakes on his charm offensive in EU-hopeful, Muslim majority Turkey, stressing Europe's "Christian roots" and taking a strong stand on religious freedoms and minority rights. Flanked by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I after mass at the patriarcal Church of St. George, the pontiff complained in a speech Thursday that "the process of secularization has weakened the hold of ... (Christian) tradition" in Europe. "In the face of this reality, we are called, together with all other Christian communities, to renew Europes awareness of its Christian roots, traditions and values, giving them new vitality," he said....

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!� (Ps 117:24) This fraternal encounter which brings us together, Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, is God’s work, and in a certain sense his gift. We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers and to renew our commitment to move towards full communion. This commitment comes from the Lord’s will and from our responsibility as Pastors in...

Dositheos Anagnostopulos, spokesman for the Greek Patriarchate, said that the Vatican hoped to benefit from their experience of dialogue with the Islamic world.Speaking to Zaman, Anagnostopulos said that the papal visit would have an important function in overcoming centuries-old problems between the Vatican and Istanbul’s Greek Patriarchate. Anagnostopulos said Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos had made great efforts to open a dialogue with Muslims: “The Patriarchate has gone to more than 10 Islamic countries, such as Qatar, Palestine, Egypt and Iran so far. He even visited Libya, even though there is no church there. The nationalists make anti-Christian policies by using Islam....

More than 25,000 people joined demonstrations Sunday against Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit, police said.The demonstration was the largest anti-pope protest so far ahead of Benedict's arrival Tuesday for a four-day visit, his first as pope to a predominantly Muslim country. Some 4,000 police backed by riot trucks, armored vehicles and helicopters monitored the protest as the crowds grew.The protest was organized by a pro-Islamic political party called Felicity whose leaders have said they were offended by Benedict's comments in September linking violence and Islam.Benedict has expressed regret for offending Muslims by his remarks and said they did not reflect...

Istanbul, Turkey - EWTN Global Catholic Network, has announced that it will broadcast LIVE worldwide from the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide, will receive His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Istanbul, Turkey.On Nov. 29, at 4:30 AM (ET), EWTN will broadcast LIVE from the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, the Doxology of Thanksgiving, exchange of greetings and mutual reverence of the Holy Relics upon the occasion of the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The program will repeat at 9 PM (ET). On Nov. 30, beginning at 2:00 AM (ET)...

ISTANBUL, TURKEY — To reach Turkey's most important Roman Catholic church, a visitor must scour a traffic-choked street to find the metal doors, walk down a flight of stairs, cross a courtyard and finally step into the consecrated basilica. Inside the Holy Spirit Cathedral here, the lights remain low until a minute before evening Mass, and then reveal frescoed ceilings with gold-trimmed arches, 22 crystal chandeliers and blond-marble columns. On this night, 14 worshipers dot the pews. In the Turkish capital, Ankara, the only Catholic church is even more discreet: It is marked simply by a French flag. When Pope...

Interview With Father Martin Kmetec ISKENDERUN, Turkey, NOV. 24, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Conventual Franciscan Friar Martin Kmetec describes Benedict XVI's forthcoming visit to Turkey as a "courageous gesture." In this interview with ZENIT, Father Kmetec, a Slovenian missionary in Turkey, paints a picture of the nation the Pope will visit next week and explains that Catholics there are preparing for this event with hope. Q: The Pope will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, in a nation in which the great majority of inhabitants is Muslim with a very small percentage of Catholics. Is an invitation to dialogue expected? Father Kmetec:...

A plan for Pope Benedict XVI to visit Istanbul's Blue Mosque is "under consideration" by the Vatican and Turkish authorities in the last days before his trip to Turkey, the Vatican said. The pope's spokesman Federico Lombardi confirmed rumours that the Pope is considering adding the mosque to his itinerary in recognition of Turkey's majority religion. He would likely tour the mosque on Thursday, when he is already scheduled to visit the sixth-century Byzantine Hagia Sophia Church, located a few hundred metres away. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque for its distinctive tilework, was built opposite...

Via Amy: The Ecumencial Patriarchate of Constantinople has set up a website for the Pope's visit to Turkey.

Set up in 1842, the school was de facto shut down in 1971, because only Turkish young people of Orthodox faith can attend, and there are too few of them. The patriarchate hopes the visit of Benedict XVI may help obtain respect for religious freedom and minority rights. Istanbul (AsiaNews) – This year, the wiring was redone after the old wooden windows were replaced by aluminium ones last year; the walls are painted in pretty old rose and white colours; the benches are writing desks: high, carved in black wood, with tops that open and inlaid wooden chairs. Empty. There...

Patriarch Bartholomeos I, the Istanbul-based Christian Orthodox leader, says he remains confident the Pope will visit Muslim-majority Turkey as planned in November despite the furore about the pontiff's speech in Germany – writes Bernadette Sauvaget for Ecumenical News International. "The Turkish people are very hospitable, but most probably national and fanatical groups will hold demonstrations against the visit," the patriarch told a group of French religious affairs journalists on 17 September 2006 who were visiting his official headquarters in Istanbul, which was once the Byzantine Christian capital of Constantinople. "They will continue to call on the government not to welcome...

ROMA, March 22, 2006 – In the summer of 2004, when he was a cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger on two occasions defined as “a great error� the addition of Turkey to the European Union. But now that Ratzinger is pope, his position is no longer one of prejudicial rejection. This can be gathered from an article published in the latest issue of “La Civiltà Cattolica,� the magazine of the Rome Jesuits that is examined and approved by the Holy See before being printed. The author of the article is Jesuit Fr. Giovanni Sale, a specialist in the political history of the...

TARPON SPRINGS -- The spiritual leader of the world's 200 million-plus Orthodox Christians said Thursday that he is eager to meet with Pope Benedict XVI sometime in the coming year in an effort to heal the long-standing rift between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Visiting this heavily Greek community northwest of Tampa for the annual Feast of the Epiphany celebration, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I told reporters that the pope plans an official visit sometime this year to his headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey. "We are in very good relationships with the present pope, Benedict XVI, and I'm in the very...

BOLOGNA, Italy, NOV. 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).- In a message to the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, Benedict XVI renewed his intention to continue on the path of Christian unity. The message to Patriarch Bartholomew I also stated that the Pope hoped to travel soon to Istanbul, Turkey, headquarters of the Orthodox patriarchate. The papal message was read by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, retired president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, during the Byzantine-rite vespers he presided over Saturday in the Basilica of St. Petronius in Bologna. On hand was Archbishop Carlo Caffarra of Bologna. Patriarch Bartholomew I, the "first among...

Pope John Paul II has returned the relics of two saints stolen during the crusades to the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, during a mass in Rome. It was "not a reparation nor a way for the pope to ask pardon in the name of the Catholic Church for taking the relics from the Ecumenical patriarch during the crusade in the 13th century," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. He said the pope's gesture was "the expression of the sacred communication that exists between the Christian east and west." The relics belonged to two former church doctors and patriarchs;...

Reopening the Gates in Turkey? By Terry Mattingly Scripps Howard News Service There are two front gates into the walled compound that protects the home of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians. Visitors enter through a door secured by a guardhouse, locks and a metal-screening device. They cannot enter the Phanar's main gate because it was welded shut in 1821 after the Ottoman Turks hanged Patriarch Gregory V from its lintel. The black doors have remained sealed ever since. A decade ago, bombers who tried to open this gate left a note:...

The Pope delivered an emotional apology to Orthodox Christians yesterday for the Catholic plundering of Constantinople eight centuries ago, saying it caused him "pain and disgust". He made his comments during a visit to the Vatican by Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the head of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. The Pope talks with Bartholomew I at the Vatican yesterday "In particular, we cannot forget what happened in the month of April 1204," the Pope said, in reference to the sacking of Constantinople by crusaders. "How can we not share, at a distance of eight centuries,...

Preparing for the Ecumenical Patriarch "I Invite All to Pray for the Full Unity of Christians" VATICAN CITY, JUNE 27, 2004 (ZENIT.org).- Here is a translation of the address John Paul II gave today before praying the Angelus with the thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square. He gave the address in Italian. * * * 1. The day after tomorrow, on June 29, we will celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and during this happy feast day we will have the joy to receive in the Vatican His Holiness Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. We want to...

Patriarch Celebrates Divine Liturgy in Ravenna; Plans to Sign Declaration with Pope VATICAN CITY, JUNE 9, 2002 (ZENIT.org).- A step toward full unity between Catholics and Orthodox was taken when, for the first time in a millennium, a patriarch of Constantinople celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine basilica of Ravenna. John Paul II, at the Vatican, applauded today´s event, which he said helps "encourage us to continue on the road toward full unity between the Christian East and West." For the first time since the schism of 1054, an Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople celebrated the Divine Liturgy in...