Pope Leo XIV receives Archbishop Elpidophoros, pilgrims at Castel Gandolfo

Perched atop the verdant hills overlooking a serene Lake Albano, this morning the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Tobin, and fifty Orthodox and Catholic pilgrims for a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

Introducing the visitors to Castel Gandolfo, one papal staff member remarked that from Rome, the town is just “one... show morePope Leo XIV receives Archbishop Elpidophoros, pilgrims at Castel Gandolfo

Perched atop the verdant hills overlooking a serene Lake Albano, this morning the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Tobin, and fifty Orthodox and Catholic pilgrims for a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

Introducing the visitors to Castel Gandolfo, one papal staff member remarked that from Rome, the town is just “one hour by car, but it’s another life.” This picturesque venue—the traditional summer residence of Popes dating to the seventeenth century—lent a relaxing atmosphere to this historic meeting of like-minded faithful. For Archbishop Elpidophoros and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the seminal gathering further deepened their commitment to work together on the path toward Christian unity.

His Holiness offered heartfelt greetings to the pilgrims, remarking how incredibly apt it is that this pilgrimage takes place during the 2025 Jubilee Year, titled “Pilgrims of Hope,” and is led by Archbishop Elpidophoros, whose very name tells us that he is a “bearer of hope.” The pontiff also conveyed his greetings to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and shared his plans to visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate in November during the ecumenical commemoration of the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Each member of the pilgrimage had the opportunity to meet Pope Leo, and one pilgrim shared that when he looked at her, “you could see the love in his eyes.” For others, the pontiff offered blessings and autographs for a Chicago White Sox cap and Villanova alumni magazine.

As a sign of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions’ shared longing and commitment to the restoration of full communion, Archbishop Elpidophoros presented His Holiness a gift reminiscent of the one Pope Paul VI offered to Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras during their historic meeting in Jerusalem in 1964: a communion chalice and paten, lovingly and reverently handcrafted. Engraved upon the paten are the words of His Holiness’s namesake, St. Leo the Great: “Our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ has no other purpose than to transform us into that which we receive.”

Reflecting on the papal audience, Archbishop Elpidophoros shared in a social media post the words of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras during his historic 1964 meeting with Pope Paul VI, offering his hope that “this meeting be the dawn of that blessed and luminous day in which future generations, communing from the same chalice, may partake of the Holy Body and precious Blood of our Savior, and in love, peace, and unity, praise and glorify Him – the one Lord and Savior of the world.”

During a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and His Eminence Cardinal Tobin discussed the ecumenical dialogue. They expressed their shared optimism for a more vibrant and sustained ecumenical effort in the United States between Catholic and Orthodox Christians, akin to progress seen in parts of Europe. More importantly, they emphasized that while the theological dialogue—especially at the highest levels of ecclesiastical hierarchy and among scholars—continues to bear commendable fruit, what remains crucial is the everyday dialogue: the encounter at the parish level, among faithful communities.

Cardinal Tobin also commended Archbishop Elpidophoros for initiating this historic pilgrimage from Rome to New Rome—Constantinople—during this significant year marking the 1,500th anniversary of the Ecumenical Synod of Nicaea.

The first pontiff to hail from the United States, entering only the third month of his tenure, Pope Leo has already expressed a sincere willingness to walk alongside his Orthodox brethren on the path to Christian unity. In late June, he received delegates from the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, assuring them in an address of his “desire to persevere in the effort to restore full visible communion between our Churches.”

There is considerable hope that Pope Leo will continue to nurture the “dialogue of love” shared by Catholics and Orthodox over the past six decades. Relations between the Vatican and the Phanar flourished in recent years due to the extraordinary friendship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the late Pope Francis. The visit today by Archbishop Elpidophoros and Cardinal Tobin sets the stage for the new Pope’s upcoming trip to Nicaea in late November, where he is expected to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and visit the Phanar for the Feast of St. Andrew.

Today’s historic meeting, and His Eminence’s gifts, stand as a powerful symbol of the hope our two traditions share in the Resurrection, and our prayer that we may continue to draw closer to one another in dialogue, shared faith, common mission, and, ultimately, in full communion.

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: Greek is the "mother tongue of the spirit"

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has on several recent occasions brilliantly articulated the centrality of the Greek language in the formation of philosophy and Christian theology, and has emphasized the need to preserve it in its uniqueness and contributions to human thought.

On World Greek Language Day, Feb. 11, 2025, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated: “Rightfully and justly, we pay tribute... show moreEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: Greek is the "mother tongue of the spirit"

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has on several recent occasions brilliantly articulated the centrality of the Greek language in the formation of philosophy and Christian theology, and has emphasized the need to preserve it in its uniqueness and contributions to human thought.

On World Greek Language Day, Feb. 11, 2025, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated: “Rightfully and justly, we pay tribute today to the Greek language, aptly designated as the ‘mother tongue of the spirit.’” He added that Greek “serves as the key to entering what is perhaps the greatest intellectual paradise of the world. Here lie unique works that have left their mark on the course of world civilization: the Homeric epics, the Tragedies, the Platonic dialogues, the Aristotelian corpus, the New Testament, the writings of the Greek Fathers, and all the flourishing fruits of these roots.”

Addressing those who may assume that all languages are equivalent in their ability to express various kinds of human thought, His All-Holiness explained in 2021: “Language expresses the identity and the quality of the culture to which it belongs. It is not simply a means of communication, but ‘a carrier of moral values,’ as Elytis notes.” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was referring to the poet Odysseas Elytis (1911-1996), whose work he has singled out for praise on several occasions.

On World Language Day 2025, His All-Holiness explained some of the unique attributes of the Greek language, saying: “Indeed, an entire civilization passes through language. As a pre-eminent ‘philosophical language,’ the Greek language primarily names the essence, the being, the dimension of the depth of things, and not their usefulness. Great works of the human intellect are written in Greek. It has been said that philosophers, wherever they go, ‘think in Greek,’ and that anyone who speaks Greek is ‘almost impossible not to philosophize.’”

Consequently, the Ecumenical Patriarch said, “our language has never been merely a means of communication but also a bearer of high values, ethics, and culture. Greek is a language of contemplation and poetry; it expands the world’s mystery, reveals the depth of things rather than just the surface, and points to being and truth rather than appearance and utility. ‘To seek utility everywhere is least befitting to the magnanimous and the free,’ writes Aristotle, giving the imprint of truth as freedom (Politics 1338a, 30-32), a significant legacy even for our time.”

In light of these immutable qualities of the Greek language, the Ecumenical Patriarch added that “it is impossible for one who knows the Greek language not to philosophize and theologize. It has been rightly said that those who engage in philosophy, wherever they may be, ‘think in Greek.’” As a result, it was not accidental that Greek became the language in which the foundational texts of the Church’s theology were expressed: “Likewise, it is no coincidence that Greek became the central language of Christian theology. Through it, the great philosophical and theological achievement was realized: the authentic and admirable expression of the experience of salvation in Christ through the terminology of Greek philosophy. The union of Christianity and Hellenism was a decisive turning point not only in the course of the Church and theology but also in the history of thought and civilization.”

The centrality of Greek in Christian theology, His All-Holiness explains, is also due to the language’s poetic character. “Theology,” he said, “has never been mere ‘detached information’ about God. It is impossible to speak of the God of love and humanity’s unquenchable longing for eternity without our words becoming poetry and praise. There is no dullness in matters of faith. The hymnography of our Church is a literary marvel, a sublime hymn to the power and beauty of the Greek language. In general, authentic theological texts are closer to poetry than to prose.”

In light of all this, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized that one of the Church’s responsibilities was to preserve the Greek language in all its grandeur and uniqueness: “The Church’s enduring role in cultivating, enriching, preserving, and spreading the Greek word is indisputable. It established and operated schools and academies to promote both secular and Christian education, with the firm conviction that language and faith preserved our nation, continue to sustain us today, and are inextricably linked to our future. The learned Greek language still resonates in our ecclesiastical services, connecting Orthodox believers across the centuries in a shared glorification of God’s greatness.”

His All-Holiness also stated: “We take pride in the fact that the Greek language retains its universal character even today. For countless people worldwide, Greek serves as a source of inspiration and intellectual orientation. The works of ancient Greek thinkers and Christian Greek literature adorn the libraries of the world and are studied and discussed. Thousands of Greek or Greek-derived words are found in languages across the globe. Greek remains an inexhaustible source for the formulation of fundamental scientific terms. The cornerstone concepts of global civilization are Greek: logos, dialogue, ethics, politics, democracy, physics, history, pedagogy, music, anthropology, praxis, theory, and countless others. Indeed, Greek is ‘a language unparalleled among the 2,700 languages of the world.’”

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate note also the uniqueness of our beloved Ecumenical Patriarch, the longest-serving and one of the most consequential Ecumenical Patriarchs in the history of the Church. Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα!... show less

Official Schedule of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's U.S. Visit in September Released

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne in America, the clergy, and the faithful Orthodox people of the United States will joyfully welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States for an official visit in September 2025. On his visit, His All-Holiness will receive the internationally-recognized Templeton Prize for his “pioneering... show moreOfficial Schedule of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's U.S. Visit in September Released

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne in America, the clergy, and the faithful Orthodox people of the United States will joyfully welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States for an official visit in September 2025. On his visit, His All-Holiness will receive the internationally-recognized Templeton Prize for his “pioneering efforts to bridge scientific and spiritual understandings of humanity’s relationship with the natural world, bringing together people of different faiths to heed a call for stewardship of creation.”

His All-Holiness will arrive in Washington, D.C. on Monday, September 15, 2025, and will depart from New York, New York on Thursday, September 25, 2025. During this visit, His All-Holiness is expected to meet President of the United States Donald Trump. Other highlights will include: a Patriarchal Doxology at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine; addresses to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Concordia Annual Summit; an Environmental Tribute on International World Coastal Cleanup Day; and a private ceremony at which His All-Holiness will be awarded the Templeton Prize.

https://www.goarch.org/-/official-visit-of-his-all-holiness-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew-to-the-united-states-in-september-2025... show less

"Dimensions of Human Life Inaccessible to Scientific Knowledge," Says Ecumenical Patriarch

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is not only a powerful and prophetic voice for peace, reconciliation, and stewardship of the natural environment; he is also a strong advocate for the importance of the arts and literature, saying that “there are dimensions of human life inaccessible to scientific knowledge and to all forms of objectification,” and describing poetry as an “invaluable... show more"Dimensions of Human Life Inaccessible to Scientific Knowledge," Says Ecumenical Patriarch

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is not only a powerful and prophetic voice for peace, reconciliation, and stewardship of the natural environment; he is also a strong advocate for the importance of the arts and literature, saying that “there are dimensions of human life inaccessible to scientific knowledge and to all forms of objectification,” and describing poetry as an “invaluable gift from heaven to humanity.”

Theology itself, His All-Holiness said, is a fundamentally poetic endeavor: “The language of theology has never been mere information ‘about God;’ it has always been poetic, heartfelt, and infused with spiritual beauty. Let us remember that the hymnographic texts of our Church are a literary marvel...it is unimaginable to conceive of a true believer who does not also cherish literature and poetry.”

https://www.goarch.org/-/ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew-there-are-dimensions-of-human-life-inaccessible-to-scientific-knowledge-... show less

Special Tribute Concert Honors Ecumenical Patriarch and the Late Nikolaos Steliaros

The flag bearing the seal of His-All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew proudly flew as the sun set over Manhattan in front of Saint Bartholomew’s Church on Park Avenue. Here, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America presented a special tribute concert honoring His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the late Nikolaos Steliaros, Archon Mousikodidaskalos of the Holy Great Church of Christ.

https://www.goarch.org/-/special-tribute-concert-at-st.-bartholomew-in-new-york-honoring-his-all-holiness-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew-and-the-late-nikolaos-steliaros-archon-mousikodidaskalos-of-the-holy-great-church-of-christ

With... show moreSpecial Tribute Concert Honors Ecumenical Patriarch and the Late Nikolaos Steliaros

The flag bearing the seal of His-All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew proudly flew as the sun set over Manhattan in front of Saint Bartholomew’s Church on Park Avenue. Here, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America presented a special tribute concert honoring His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the late Nikolaos Steliaros, Archon Mousikodidaskalos of the Holy Great Church of Christ.

https://www.goarch.org/-/special-tribute-concert-at-st.-bartholomew-in-new-york-honoring-his-all-holiness-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew-and-the-late-nikolaos-steliaros-archon-mousikodidaskalos-of-the-holy-great-church-of-christ

With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, this Pentecost tribute concert was offered in celebration of His All-Holiness’ patronal feast of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew, in memory of the late Archon Nikolaos Steliaros (who reposed in the Lord in September 2024), and as an expression of filial gratitude for the many rich blessings that the Mother Church of Constantinople continues to impart on all of her faithful sons and daughters in the United States and throughout the entire world.... show less