Athens, 16 May 2008

Your All Holiness,

Your Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece,

Most Reverend Metropolitans,

Reverend Archimandrites,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour and pleasure for the Hellenic Foreign Ministry to receive Your Holiness and your entourage. The presence of so many worthy representatives of the clergy at Your side contributes significantly to the success of your vital mission.

Your All Holiness,

On behalf of all of us who work to defend the national interests of our country, I would like to express the love and respect with which we look upon the Patriarchate and yourself. Your presence here honours us all and give us strength in our endeavour to carry out our duty to our country.

What is more, you may take for granted the love, and respect for, and devotion to, your person of all Hellenism, in every corner of the world. I am certain that these feelings are confirmed every time you visit Greece or other countries where Hellenes live and create.

Your Beatitude the Archbishop,

It is a great pleasure for us to welcome you today to the Foreign Ministry, for the first time since your election to the position of Primate of the Greek Church. I would like you to know that your work and words inspire in all of us spirituality, tranquillity and respect for your person. I am certain that under your inspired guidance and your close cooperation with His All Holiness – which you confirmed on your recent visit to Istanbul – the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate will open up new and creative paths in their relations. The warm climate of brotherhood and solidarity between you confirms the close ties between the Greek Church and the Phanar. I would like to take the opportunity of our meeting today to express to you my heartfelt wishes for strength and success in the carrying out of your vital mission.

Your All Holiness,

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is a great, global institution. An institution that – in these difficult times – is a true repository guarding the cultural values shaped by the Greek democratic ideal, by Roman law, by the principles and values of the Enlightenment, and by Christian morals. The values that Europe – with great dedication – is defending and promoting globally today.

Your character and actions have linked you indissolubly with the defence of human rights and timeless values; with free expression of ideas, democracy, peace and solidarity. The presence and validity of your views are recognized globally. Under your strong leadership, Orthodoxy has a voice in international developments as never before. The Ecumenical Patriarchate has emerged as a path-finder in the shaping of the contemporary international landscape.

As the voice of Eastern Christianity, first among equals in the hierarchy of the Orthodox churches, you have undertaken very important initiatives for the promotion of inter-faith dialogue, as well as the theological dialogue with the Catholic church. Your character and profound erudition are strong guarantees that these ecumenical efforts will have a positive outcome.

At the same time, you were among the first international leaders to promote a message calling for rescue of the environment, declaring its vital importance. It is with great interest that we follow and support your tireless work on environmental issues. The huge response you have received globally shows that humanity today has need of strong spiritual leaders who, through their initiatives, aim to reverse the catastrophic course that we have rashly set for Nature.

Through these initiatives, you have developed yet another modern role of the Patriarchal Throne; a role that is in complete harmony with your theological mission. Without a doubt, such actions and initiatives have brought home in the strongest possible manner the ecumenicity of the institution, significantly enhancing its international presence and influence.

Your All Holiness,

It is of particular importance that the loudest and most persistent European voice in Turkey has for years now  issued from the august Phanar. The Ecumenical Patriarchate remains a timelessly steadfast supporter of Turkey’s European vision. But in this same historic see, in its day-to-day activities, the Patriarchate is faced with difficulties and problems. Problems that result from outdated attitudes and interests – in the negative sense of the word – and that hinder the Patriarchate in the performance of its mission. Problems that Greek policy has managed to bring into a European framework, rendering their resolution evidence of progress in the European adaptation of our neighbouring country.

We spare no effort in making it clear to our Turkish collocutors how important an argument in their favour the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s presence in Turkey can be. We never stop reiterating that recognition of the ecumenical nature of the institution, its unhindered functioning, the potential to replenish the ranks of its clergy without problems through the reopening of the Halki Seminary, recognition of its legal personality and security of its property rights – all of these can be great advantages for our friend and neighbour on its difficult course towards Europe. And it is of particular importance that Greece is not alone in putting forward these arguments. These are the same positions stressed to our neighbour by our partners, friends and allies at every opportunity.

Your All Holiness,

I would like to assure you that we will not cease to support – in every direction – the need to ensure complete unity in Orthodoxy. Complete unity such as that which already exists among the Churches of the Greek World, Ancient Patriarchates, the Churches of Greece and Cyprus. These churches stand together in a tight unit, exerting a gravitational pull on the sister churches of many Balkan countries.

The unity of Orthodoxy is vital to Orthodoxy’s playing its historic role. The Ecumenical Throne certainly has a major role to play in securing and consolidating this unity, and that is why we think that the moral weapon of pre-eminence should never forsake the shores of the Bosporus.

Your All Holiness,

Allow me to assure you, once again, that in the Greek government you will find an active supporter and assistance in all of your wonderful causes. We are working constantly, with consistence and resolve, so that you can continue your pious work unhindered, and so that you can fulfil the great mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Once again, it is a great joy and pleasure to welcome you here.