Patriarch Bartholomew I

The Latest

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2021.

Pope to Orthodox patriarch: ‘Bonds of faith, hope and charity’ unite two churches

Nov 30, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

On the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, Pope Francis sent a message to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2021.

Pope Francis: Restoration of Christian unity is ‘an urgent priority in today’s world’

Nov 30, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the full restoration of communion among all Christians is “an urgent priority in today’s world.” Read more

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I

Why Catholics and Orthodox might once again celebrate Easter on the same date

Nov 18, 2022

By AC Wimmer

The spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians has come out in support of finding a common date to... Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki with Bartholomew I of Constantinople in Warsaw, Poland, on March 29, 2022.

Orthodox leader and Polish Catholic archbishop pray for peace in Ukraine

Mar 29, 2022

By CNA Staff

Patriarch Bartholomew I is visiting Poland to offer his blessing to Ukrainian refugees. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2021.

Pope Francis to Orthodox leader: May God prepare us to receive gift of full unity

Nov 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope sent the message on the feast of St. Andrew. Read more

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Orthodox leader discusses religious freedom, climate change with Biden

Oct 26, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I discussed religious freedom and climate change with U.S. leaders on Monday in Washington, D.C., and announced... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2021.

Pope Francis thanks God for ‘profound personal bond’ with Orthodox leader

Oct 22, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Orthodox leader is marking the 30th anniversary of his election. Read more

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest on Sept. 11, 2021.

Cardinal Erdö: Our world today is in burning need of a united Christianity

Sep 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

"This unity is the will of Christ Himself, who prayed that His disciples may be one, that the world may... Read more

Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby, and Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy, Sept. 20, 2016.

Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican leaders call climate crisis a ‘devastating injustice’

Sep 7, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The three leaders said: ‘We repent of our generation’s sins.’ Read more

Pope Francis with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople outside the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli Oct. 20, 2020.

Imam, rabbi, and Orthodox patriarch wish Pope Francis a swift recovery

Jul 5, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis underwent a three-hour operation on the evening of July 4. Read more

Pope Francis with Orthodox Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon on June 28, 2021.

Pope Francis: ‘The witness of growing communion between us Christians will be a sign of hope’

Jun 28, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople that the witness of growing communion between Christians would... Read more

Pope Francis with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople outside the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli Oct. 20, 2020.

Pope Francis tells Orthodox leader: I am confident we will achieve full unity

Nov 30, 2020

Pope Francis told the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Monday that he is confident that Catholics and Orthodox Christians will attain... Read more

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.

Hagia Sophia declared a mosque hours after court ruling

Jul 10, 2020

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signed a decree converting Hagia Sophia, the former cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Istanbul, into... Read more

Pope Francis gave the Sunday Angelus address and blessing to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on June 21, 2020.

Pope Francis greets Orthodox patriarch after coronavirus cancels annual visit

Jun 29, 2020

Pope Francis extended a special greeting to the Patriarch Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and head of the Orthodox... Read more

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I in Greece. April 16, 2016.

Pope Francis explains decision to give relics of St. Peter to Orthodox

Sep 13, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a letter to Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Pope Francis has explained the unexpected gifting of a relic of St.... Read more

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I in Greece, April 16, 2016.

Pope Francis gives relic of St. Peter's bones to Orthodox patriarch

Jul 3, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis gave unexpectedly a reliquary containing what are believed to be bone fragments of St. Peter to Orthodox Patriarch... Read more

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I in Greece, April 16, 2016.

Pope Francis calls for unity with Orthodox Churches

Nov 30, 2018

On the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, Pope Francis told the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople that while the Holy... Read more

Cherkassy, Ukraine: an Orthrodox procession, January 2017.

Orthodox Patriarch commits to independent Ukrainian Church, snubs Moscow

Oct 11, 2018

The announcement, released Oct. 11, also removed the traditional right of the Russian Patriarch to ordain the Metropolitan of Kyiv,... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Vatican City on June 27, 2017.

Unity is more than 'bland uniformity,' Pope tells Orthodox

Jun 27, 2017

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis met with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, saying their journey toward full communion is one... Read more

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I in Greece, April 16, 2016.

Francis appeals to the martyrs in ecumenical message to Patriarch

Nov 30, 2016

The Bishop of Rome sent a message to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople on Wednesday, continuing a recent tradition of... Read more