The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a warm congratulatory letter to the founders of BioNTech, Doctors Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, who were awarded the “Athenagoras Human Rights Award” by the National Council of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, together with Albert Bourla, President and CEO of Pfizer, and George Giankopoulos and Christos Kyratsou, President and Vice President, respectively, of Regeneron Pharmaceutical, for their contribution to the treatment of Coronavirus by creating appropriate vaccines and medicines.
The couple of scientists from Germany could not attend the official award ceremony, which took place in New York on October 30 and receive it from the hands of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
“We would like to congratulate you on your pioneering research and effective invention, which is a valuable weapon in the fight against the pandemic that prevails around the world,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said in his letter to the two scientists, who hail from Turkey, highlighting that, today many young people, both in their place of origin and in other countries, are planning their future with them as a prototype.
Elsewhere in his letter, the Ecumenical Patriarch said:
“It is certain that the pandemic we face and afflicts humanity will not be the last. To tackle new pandemics, must formulate health policies with more equal criteria for all citizens and achieve better coordination of the various sectors. For our part, we strive to strengthen interpersonal relationships and encourage cooperation with empathy and justice for the good of all mankind.”
It is recalled that the official ceremony, during which the Ecumenical Patriarch personally congratulated, but also during his speech, the other award winners, was attended by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Hierarchs of the Throne and other Churches, the former US Secretary of State Alex Azar, politicians, diplomats, scientists and many Archons and members of the Greek Diaspora.