As he prepared to travel to Rome for the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke on April 25, 2025 with profound emotion and deep affection for his dear friend, who passed away on April 21. His All-Holiness stated: “I would like to ask for your prayers for the repose of Pope Francis, who was a friend of Orthodoxy.” This was a reaffirmation of His All-Holiness’ statements on the day of the Pope’s passing, when he referred to Pope Francis as a “precious brother in Christ” and “a true friend of Orthodoxy.”
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis had a long and fruitful collaboration. “We cooperated decisively for a greater rapprochement of our Churches” and “for the promotion of theological dialogue,” said His All-Holiness shortly after he arrived in Rome on April 25 for the Pope’s funeral. “We worked with dedication for the further rapprochement of our Churches, to promote theological dialogue between us, to overcome difficulties, but above all to highlight all that unites us, so that this journey may lead us to the blessed day when we will once again share the Common Cup.”
His All-Holiness recounted that he and Pope Francis together walked “the path of awakening the powerful of the world and every man of good will on the refugee and immigration issues. We sent a common message from Lesvos in every direction, in order for all our well-meaning fellow human beings to realize that behind the soulless numbers there are faces of our suffering and frightened brothers.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out other common aspects of his mission and that of the Pope, saying: “We shared common concerns about our testimony as pastors, about the witness of our Churches in modern societies, which are facing multiple challenges in a world troubled by conflicts and wars. We shared common views on the need to protect God’s Creation, to preserve our common Home, at a time when the planet is experiencing daily environmental degradation and the consequences of climate change, as a result of our own selfish behavior.”
His All-Holiness also spoke of his deep personal friendship with the Pope: “Throughout these twelve years of his papacy, he was a faithful friend, companion, and supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate… He left behind an example of genuine humility and brotherly love.” The Ecumenical Patriarch recounted that when he met Pope Francis in Jerusalem in 2014, “we knelt together, side by side, in front of the Tomb of the Lord and prayed for the unity of the Christian world and for peace across the globe.”
At that groundbreaking meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch and Pope Francis issued a common declaration, stating: “Our fraternal encounter today is a new and necessary step on the journey towards the unity to which only the Holy Spirit can lead us, that of communion in legitimate diversity. We call to mind with profound gratitude the steps that the Lord has already enabled us to undertake….Well aware that unity is manifested in love of God and love of neighbor, we look forward in eager anticipation to the day in which we will finally partake together in the Eucharistic banquet.” They said that “by achieving this hoped for goal, we will manifest to the world the love of God by which we are recognized as true disciples of Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 13:35).”
They concluded their statement with an appeal to the mother of all Christians: “In undertaking this shared pilgrimage to the site where our one same Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose again, we humbly commend to the intercession of the Most Holy and Ever Virgin Mary our future steps on the path towards the fullness of unity, entrusting to God’s infinite love the entire human family.”
At the time of the Pope’s passing, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew also recalled that he and Pope Francis made plans during that 2014 meeting in Jerusalem for what would have been an historic meeting this year: “He was due to come to our country and together we would go to Nicaea, where the First Ecumenical Council was convened, to honor the memory of the Holy Fathers and exchange thoughts and wishes for the future of Christianity. All of this, of course, was canceled — or rather, postponed.” The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, which was convened in Nicaea in the year 325.
His All-Holiness revealed that when he suggested this meeting in Nicaea to the Pope, the Pontiff was enthusiastic, responding: “This is an amazing thought, an amazing idea and proposal.”
Now, the Ecumenical Patriarch states: “It was not meant to be for him to come.” He added that “the God of life and death decided otherwise, calling him to His side, and now Brother Francis will pray from Heaven for all of us and for the unity of the Churches.”
His All-Holiness still retains hope, however, that this historic meeting will take place: “I believe that his successor will come, and we will go together to Nicaea to send a message of unity, love, brotherhood, and shared path toward the future of Christianity.”
His All-Holiness’ long friendship with Pope Francis is just one manifestation of his tireless labors as an apostle of unity and reconciliation. He has stated that “we must recognize that there is nothing to divide us from our brothers and sisters of other denominations or religions. On the contrary, there are many things that unite us.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch has also pointed out that “Christianity and the religious traditions hold principles not only for nurturing inner spiritual peace but also for striving to establish peace in human relationships and society. It is contrary to the essence and mission of a representative of the Church or religion to promote violence in the name of God.”
Pope Francis stood together with his dear friend Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as prophetic voices for healing ancient divisions and bringing humanity together. The Pope issued a challenge to us all: “May we never fear to pursue the paths of concord that the Spirit points out.” The Pope also stated, with humble simplicity and deep wisdom, that “Christian unity is achieved by walking together.”
Pope Francis not only stated this principle; he lived by it. And so as he offered prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, His All-Holiness remembered him above all as a beloved brother, saying: “Eternal be your memory, Brother Pope Francis.”
