On Monday morning, June 8, 2026, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew continued his visit to Lithuania by delivering an official address at the World Apostolic Conference on Mercy of the Roman Catholic Church. This followed an invitation from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Grušas, who is also the President of the Council of Roman Catholic Episcopal Conferences of Europe.
Entitled ‘Ecumenism and Mercy – Overcoming Historical Inertia’, the Ecumenical Patriarch’s address referred to the importance and responsibility of promoting inter-Christian dialogue, as well as the impact of historical memory in this respect.
‘The burden of pastoral ministry, which we have undertaken in an age of fluidity, compels us, despite the administrative challenges of daily life, which often divert our attention, to look squarely at the reality of division. Persistence in institutional isolation is tantamount to denying the truth that God Himself is revealed as a communion of three persons. In practice, we annul our faith in the Triune God by refusing communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When people see the Church preaching reconciliation in theory while being fractured daily by internal disputes, its message loses all soteriological credibility. The insistence on maintaining such dividing walls reveals a profound distrust in the renewing power of Pentecost,” he noted, speaking in English. In another part of his address, he said:
‘Today, we are called to approach the thorny reality of inter-Christian relations with concrete spiritual realism and synodal responsibility. This process is exceptionally delicate and demanding because theological dialogue requires exhaustive labour from those who participate. We must delve into a complex web of historical differences, often completely impenetrable, to grasp the essence of revealed faith. It is precisely there that we seek the fundamental principles that sustain the existence of the Church. Confronted with such a weighty historical past, we must rigorously assess our doctrinal arsenal, isolating the life-giving core of the Gospel from the various historical forms that have surrounded it. In this way, we gain the ability to conduct dialogue in terms of authentic mercy.
We are now living in an era marked, almost traumatically, by digital isolation and ongoing climate collapse. We live in a technological landscape that is entirely fluid and demanding. Here, the social media algorithm operates exclusively with the aim of commodifying human attention. It is continuously fuelled by polarisation and artificially and methodically widens the distance between people. This dominant culture of cancellation is the most merciless antithesis of evangelical mercy. It is creating a culture of unforgiveness, taking human error and digitising it to create an eternal condemnation.
The stance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has historically been shaped by a profound sense of self-awareness. We bear this self-knowledge as our highest pastoral duty towards the Orthodox faithful. With a full sense of historical responsibility, we actively participate in bilateral and multilateral theological dialogues, bearing continuous witness to the Eucharistic life of the Orthodox Church. Our goal remains the final restoration of unity in right faith and love. At the same time, we remain unwavering on matters touching the essence of the salvific message. This point was declared with absolute theological clarity by the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church in 2016. Our continuous participation stems from the Church’s inner need to transmit the undiminished richness of its patristic heritage.
The Ecumenical Patriarch made special reference to the blessed memory of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI, and to the courage they displayed in December 1965 when they took the bold step of lifting the anathemas of 1054, an act which he described as such. ‘They did the unthinkable, overturning a long-established estrangement of nine whole centuries. The mercy they demonstrated was a powerful force that broke through the entrenched walls of suspicion.’ [Read the original text of the Patriarchal address HERE.]
After delivering his address at the conference, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Government Palace, where he held a cordial meeting with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ms Inga Ruginienė.
At midday, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended a luncheon held at the Presidential Palace, having been invited by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr Gitanas Nausėda.
That evening, the Patriarch and his entourage left for Constantinople by air, arriving around midnight. They were seen off at Vilnius International Airport by the Patriarchal Exarch, Bishop Panaretos of Tamassos; Mr Artūras Gailiūnas, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Turkey, representing the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr Grigorios Karachalios, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey; Mr Mehmet Bakici, a Turkish Embassy staff member representing the Ambassador; and clerics of the Patriarchal Exarchate.
On Tuesday morning, the Ecumenical Patriarch received Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria at the city airport, and they immediately departed for Imbros together.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
