Trump Hosts Orthodox Leader During High-Stakes US Visit

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, arrived in the US on Sunday for his first visit in four years. On Monday, he met President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to discuss critical issues facing Christians globally, including persecution in Turkey and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Bartholomew, based in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), holds a prominent role as "first among equals" among Orthodox patriarchs, overseeing communities like the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

In his meeting with Trump, Bartholomew highlighted the struggles of Turkey’s small Christian population, saying, “Despite hardships and persecutions, we survive and continue our mission,” according to the Orthodox Observer. He also addressed Ukraine, condemning Russia’s invasion and its impact, including “thousands of victims” and “kidnapped children.” Bartholomew, a vocal supporter of Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Church since 2019, noted the severed ties with Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill, who backs Russia’s actions.

Bartholomew expressed concerns about dwindling Christian populations in the Middle East, fearing sacred sites may one day lack worshippers. He also shared condolences for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a Trump ally, and discussed promising talks with Turkey about reopening a historic theological school.

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Beyond politics, Bartholomew’s visit celebrates his environmental advocacy. On Sep 24 in New York, he’ll receive the Templeton Prize for his work on science, spirituality, and human purpose. Known as the “green patriarch,” he has long condemned “ecological sin” like pollution and deforestation. His US tour, ending Sep 25, includes events hosted by Turkish and Greek ambassadors and visits to Orthodox churches in Washington and New York. He’ll also meet Pope Leo XIV in Turkey in November to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

In 2021, Bartholomew met then-President Joe Biden to discuss climate change and religious liberty, while also receiving medical treatment. With 200 million followers, Eastern Orthodoxy remains the second-largest Christian group after Roman Catholicism.

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