Ecumenical Patriarch meets with MEP Vangelis Meimarakis in Constantinople

On Thursday, 6 March 2025, His All-Holiness 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.

Meimarakis, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Interreligious Dialogue Committee of the European People’s Party (EPP), expressed his honour and joy over the meeting through a social media post. “With great pleasure and honour, I met and shared a meal with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople,” he stated.

During the meeting, the discussion focused on matters of mutual interest, particularly the importance of strengthening interfaith dialogue. Meimarakis emphasised the crucial role of religious leaders in fostering collaboration, especially during times of geopolitical turmoil.

“In a period of crises, instability, and wars, religion should unite, not divide,” he stressed, highlighting the need for dialogue and peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

The meeting took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere, reaffirming the strong ties between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the European Union. It also underscored the Patriarchate’s ongoing commitment to promoting peace, dialogue, and cooperation among peoples and religions.