On Thursday, February 22, 2024, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew responded to the kind invitation of the President of the Marmara Grubu Vakfi Foundation Dr. Akkan Suver, and delivered a speech at the “27th Eurasian Economic Summit”, held in Constantinople.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, addressing the audience in English, acknowledged the stark realities of our contemporary world, marred by wars, conflicts, and pervasive violence. He expressed deep disappointment at the prevailing indifference towards the suffering, insecurity, and forced displacement endured by countless individuals. Additionally, he lamented the widespread poverty and misery that afflict so many lives. In his address, the Ecumenical Patriarch stressed that it appears humanity remains fixated solely on our own concerns and self-interests, a phenomenon he attributed to either greed or apathy. He emphasized that this reality stands in stark contrast to a world characterized by stability, cooperation, and inclusivity.
The Ecumenical Patriarch further asserted that the summit’s central focus on cooperation and inclusion stemmed from their status as vital principles. These values, he emphasized, serve as the bedrock for ensuring and measuring stability and security in our global community. However, he stressed that we must also underline the importance of “building”. He highlighted that the concept of “building” encompasses not only hard work and difficulty but also struggle, often uncomfortable.
Yet, crucially, another key concept underpins building, one indispensable for achieving cooperation and inclusion. Without this essential element, he emphasized, stability for ourselves, our people, and our planet remains elusive. He emphasized that stability is unattainable without work and determination and building a better world and future necessitates challenging ingrained habits of the past. It often entails swimming against prevailing currents or trends, and at times, even defying our own preferences. This requires breaking free from comfort and complacency so that others may access the essential resources of life they rightfully deserve: clean air and water, sufficient food and healthcare, and the opportunity to live in peace and prosperity.
The Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out that we are all called upon to respond to the modern challenges facing our world in new and unprecedented ways, and reminded that the recent coronavirus pandemic taught us that “no one is saved unless everyone is saved.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized that ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, environmental disasters like floods and droughts, escalating ethnic tensions in Africa and Asia, and the persistent migrant and refugee crisis worldwide serve as stark reminders. These challenges call us to seek innovative approaches to transition from crisis to stability, fostering cooperation to achieve inclusion for all.
He underscored that ignoring the cries of both people and the earth is no longer an option. Thus, he said that the pathway away from conflict lies in fostering solidarity, embracing cooperation, and cultivating compassion with heightened sensitivity.
At noon, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the luncheon that was held.
Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
