Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew welcomed Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and former President of the New Democracy party, Vangelis Meimarakis, to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Meimarakis, also the Co-Chair of the Interreligious Dialogue Committee of the European People’s Party (EPP), shared his honor and joy over the meeting on social media. He expressed, “With great pleasure and honor, I met and shared a meal with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.”
The discussion during the meeting centered on mutual interests, with a focus on strengthening interfaith dialogue. Meimarakis highlighted the importance of religious leaders in promoting collaboration, especially in times of geopolitical turmoil.
“In times of crises, instability, and conflicts, religion should be a unifying force, not a divisive one,” he emphasized, stressing the significance of dialogue and peaceful coexistence among different faiths.
The warm and cordial atmosphere of the meeting reaffirmed the strong relationship between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the European Union. It also highlighted the Patriarchate’s continuous dedication to fostering peace, dialogue, and cooperation among various cultures and religions.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas