(Video) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the passing away of Pope Francis of Rome

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his statement on the passing away of Pope Francis of Rome, spoke of a precious brother in Christ with whom, from the first moment of his ascension to the Papal Throne, “we had a fraternal friendship and cooperation for the further rapprochement of our Churches and for the good of humanity.” His All-Holiness also recalled their joint visit to Jerusalem in 2014 and their first discussion on the joint celebration of this year’s 1700th anniversary of the convening of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.

The following is the full statement of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Greek language: