The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Cathedral of Strasbourg on the afternoon of Monday, January 27, where he was warmly welcomed by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Strasbourg, Pascal Delannoy.
In his response, the Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his thanks for the heartfelt and honorable reception.
Immediately afterward, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the University of Strasbourg, where he was greeted by the University Chancellor, Michel Deneken, accompanied by the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Marc Feix, as well as professors and other officials of the institution.
In front of a large audience, the Ecumenical Patriarch delivered a significant speech in French on the topic, “The Tripartite of Freedom: Ecology-Human Rights-Peace. An Orthodox Approach,” in which he discussed the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s ecological traditions and the importance of protecting the natural environment.
The Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized the need for a “Copernican shift” in mentality to address the contemporary ecological crisis and climate change.
In the evening, the Ecumenical Patriarch blessed the dinner held in his honor at the Patriarchal residence by the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, Georgios Yiangou. The event was attended by various dignitaries, including former Greek Prime Minister George A. Papandreou and members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
On the morning of the same day, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended and spoke at an Inter-Christian meeting held at a building of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Strasbourg in observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Today, Tuesday, January 28, the Ecumenical Patriarch, along with his distinguished entourage, returned in the afternoon to Constantinople.