Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Holds High-Level Talks with Ukrainian President, Greek PM, and UN Secretary-General

OCP News Service – 25/09/2025

NEW YORK – USA: His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew utilized his apostolic visit to the United States for the UN General Assembly to hold a series of high-level diplomatic and spiritual meetings, reiterating his condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stressing the need for global cooperation on peace and environment.

The Patriarch’s schedule included three key meetings in New York:

Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy On Monday, September 22, at the Ukrainian Mission to the UN, the Patriarch met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His Holiness reaffirmed his sympathy and support for the war-torn people of Ukraine. President Zelenskyy specifically thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for his outspoken condemnation of the Russian aggression, particularly referencing the Patriarch’s recent public criticism of the Russian Church for “blessing” the illegal war. The leaders discussed efforts towards peace and solidarity for the Ukrainian people.

Meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis On Tuesday, September 23, the Patriarch met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Holy Archdiocese of America. The Prime Minister, who was in New York for the UN General Assembly, offered his congratulations to the Patriarch on his forthcoming Templeton Prize award, which the Prime Minister confirmed he would attend. The two discussed issues of mutual concern to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, along with a summary of the Patriarch’s ongoing high-profile trip.

Meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres Earlier in the week, on Thursday, September 18, the Ecumenical Patriarch met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters. The warm and constructive discussion focused on the urgent need for dialogue between peoples and religions and shared initiatives for peace and environmental stewardship. His All-Holiness has previously publicly praised the Secretary-General for his environmental initiatives, earning the Patriarch the nickname, “the Green Patriarch.”

The series of meetings underscored the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s active role in global diplomatic and humanitarian affairs, cementing its advocacy for peace, religious dialogue, and environmental justice on the international stage.

Source:

OCP News Service