On Monday, 16 October 2023, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with King Philip VI of Spain, at the Palace of Zarzuela.
During their 45-minute heart-to-heart meeting, which was also attended by Metropolitan Bessarion of Spain and Portugal and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for the E.U. and Collaboration, Mr. Luis Cuesta, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Spanish Monarch for his country’s interest in the issues concerning the life of the Ecumenical Throne, particularly of his Metropolitanate in Spain, and informed His Majesty about the priorities of the ecumenical mission and ministry of the Mother Church, while both also referred to the tragic events in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The King of Spain congratulated the Ecumenical Patriarch for being awarded on Tuesday, the title of honorary doctorate from the University of Salamanca, as well as for the celebrated two anniversaries of the Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal. Both the Patriarch and King of Spain exchanged gifts and commemorative photos were taken of the two, and with the Patriarchal entourage at the end of the meeting.
