LAST UPDATE: 14:20
US President Joe Biden has expressed personal interest in the state of health of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The Primate of Orthodoxy left New York on Sunday afternoon for Constantinople.
The American President called the Ecumenical Patriarch late Monday night, local time in Turkey, to wish him well and to learn the latest news about his health.
Joe Biden referred to his recent visit to the Vatican, saying he saw a photograph of Patriarch Bartholomew with Pope Francis on the Pope’s desk.
For his part, the Ecumenical Patriarch thanked Biden for the meeting at the White House and for the interest he showed in the issues that concern the Patriarchate.
The US President said that the channels of communication will be kept open and that he remains willing to help manage the problems faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the conversation:
On the night of Monday, November 8, 2021, the first day of the return of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from America, the President of the USA J. Biden called Patriarch Bartholomew to ask about His health and to be informed of His return journey to Constantinople.
When the Patriarch thanked J. Biden for the recent meeting they had at the White House, on October 25, which lasted more than an hour, the President answered politely that it could last a year! He also said that after their meeting, he went to the Vatican and had a meeting with the Pope, where he was pleased to see the very fraternal relations between the two religious leaders.
Furthermore, J. Biden mentioned to the Ecumenical Patriarch the meeting he had with the well-known athlete Giannis Antetokounbo, who has become Orthodox.
Finally, J. Biden told the Patriarch not to hesitate to contact him on any issue when the need arises.
