Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with Pope Francis in the Vatican, Tuesday, September 17, 2019.

The sketches of history

By Nikos Tzotis

The Ecumenical Patriarch is in Rome to participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Canon Law of the Eastern Churches, where he opened the proceedings yesterday with a very important speech.

This morning, after returning from the proceedings of the conference in order to meet privately with Pope Francis in the reception hall of St. Martha’s House (Domus Sanctae Marthae) in the Vatican, where he is staying, he met the Council of Cardinal Advisers established by the Pope, the so-called C9, in order to assist him in his efforts to reform the Catholic Church.

Bishop Marcello Semeraro, secretary of the Council, invited the Ecumenical Patriarch to enter the meeting room and placed him at the head of the meeting table for a commemorative photo.

The Ecumenical Patriarch on this occasion issued a brief but important greeting, saying: “We Orthodox, who place great importance and value on conciliarity, can appreciate your  work with the Pope. This work is a great honor and a great responsibility for you. We pray for its prosperity.”