His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Mark, concluded on Monday evening his visit to Turkey, which lasted 3 days, to be the first stop of his current foreign tour that includes a number of European countries, within the framework of his pastoral and ecclesiastical activity and strengthening relations between churches.
A historic meeting with the Patriarch of Constantinople
The visit witnessed an official meeting between Pope Tawadros II and Bartholomew I, considered the first of its kind since the Pope’s accession to the See of Mark, in a step that reflects the depth of ecclesiastical relations and dialogue between the Orthodox churches.
Participation in the Patriarchal Mass in the Fanar
The Pope attended the Patriarchal Mass on Sunday morning at St. George Church in the Fanar area, where Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over the prayer, with the participation of Synod members, and the two sides delivered official speeches that stressed the importance of dialogue and joint cooperation.
Pastoral meetings and official visits
The Pope met with the members of the Coptic Church in Istanbul at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, where he was reassured about their conditions. He also visited the Egyptian Consulate and met with the Egyptian Ambassador and the Consul General.
The visit also included meetings with leaders of other churches, where he visited the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate and met with Patriarch Sahak II, then headed to the Syriac Orthodox Church, where its officials warmly received him.
An external tour lasts for two weeks
The visit to Türkiye comes as part of a foreign tour by Pope Tawadros that will last for more than two weeks, and will include Austria, Italy, and Croatia, and will include a number of official meetings and pastoral activities.
A church delegation accompanies the visit
During the visit, the Pope was accompanied by a number of bishops and priests, including Bishop Daniel, Bishop Thomas, and Bishop Angelos, along with a number of church officials, within the framework of organizing the visit and coordinating its activities.
