On Saturday, May 31, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew returned to Constantinople accompanied by the Patriarchal Entourage, following his visit to Rome. The visit took place on May 28 in order to receive the award jointly conferred upon him and the late Pope Francis for their contribution to the promotion of holistic ecology.
The award was presented by the Pontifical Antonianum University and the Order of Friars Minor, with the award ceremony taking place on the afternoon of Friday, May 30.
On the morning of the same day, Patriarch Bartholomew was received by Pope Leo XIV. An official joint communiqué was issued on the same day regarding the meeting of the two Primates.
During his stay in Rome, the Ecumenical Patriarch was honored with formal luncheons hosted in his honor by the Ambassador of Greece to Italy, Eleni Sourani, and her husband, H.E. Ambassador (ret.) Panagiotis Zografos, as well as by the Ambassador of Cyprus to the Vatican, Georgios Poulides, who also serves as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. Attending both luncheons, among other dignitaries, was also the Ambassador of Greece to the Vatican, Aikaterini Georgiou.
During the Ecumenical Patriarch’s absence, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens was Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon.
