Patriarch Bartholomew and President Trump Hold Oval Office Meeting

President Trump and the Ecumenical Patriarch discussed, among different things, the challenges faced by Christians successful the Middle East. Credit: John Mindala / Archons / Orthodox Observer

President Trump received Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew connected Monday astatine the White House. This marked the sixth clip the Patriarch has met with a sitting U.S. President.

The gathering successful the Oval Office, which lasted implicit fractional an hour, was held successful a precise cordial atmosphere. President Trump showed keen involvement successful the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s assorted initiatives and ministries, arsenic good arsenic the lives of Christians successful Turkey.

During their discussion, Bartholomew congratulated the President connected his efforts to beforehand planetary peace, peculiarly successful Ukraine. They besides addressed the challenges faced by Christians successful the Middle East.

Additionally, the 2 leaders referenced the upcoming sojourn of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV of Rome to Turkey. The Pope’s sojourn volition commemorate the 1700th day of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea with the Ecumenical Patriarch. Vice President JD Vance, a Roman Catholic, expressed large involvement successful this meeting.

The Patriarch offered condolences to President Trump connected the assassination of his person and colleague, Charlie Kirk and concluded the gathering by thanking the President for the lukewarm invited and a thoughtful gift.

Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied by Archbishops Elpidophoros of America, Theodoritos of Laodicea, and Maximos of Selybria; the Very Reverend Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios; and the Reverend Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos.

The President was joined by Vice President JD Vance, arsenic good arsenic Reince Priebus, a subordinate of the President’s Advisory Committee connected Intelligence Services, and Michael Kratsios, the President’s Science Advisor.

Bartholomew’s itinerary successful Washington and New York

Bartholomew’s sojourn to the US is taking spot connected the juncture of the Ecumenical Patriarch being awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize for his advocacy of biology stewardship arsenic a spiritual responsibility.

The Templeton Prize is an yearly grant presented to a surviving idiosyncratic for “exemplary achievements” that beforehand the philanthropic imaginativeness of Sir John Templeton, a imaginativeness focused connected utilizing subject to research heavy questions astir the beingness and humanity’s purpose.

Following the White House meeting, the Patriarch’s schedule in Washington includes a bid of notable events. He volition laic a wreath astatine the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier successful Arlington National Cemetery and be a ceremonial meal astatine the State Department. Other planned engagements see a luncheon with House Speaker Mike Johnson and a reception astatine a parish successful Virginia.

On Thursday, the Patriarch volition question to New York City. His itinerary determination features a sojourn to the Church of St. Nicholas at Ground Zero, wherever helium volition preside implicit a doxology. While successful New York, helium is besides scheduled to conscionable with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and talk astatine the Council connected Foreign Relations.

The sojourn volition reason with the Templeton Prize ceremony, which volition instrumentality spot connected September 24 astatine Lincoln Center.