On Oct. 28, at the University of Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Ind., Bartholomew I – Orthodox archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, and ecumenical patriarch – received an honorary degree from the university. He gave a beautiful address on environmental sustainability and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patriarch Bartholomew, also known familiarly as the “Green Patriarch,” is the spiritual leader of over 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, and he acquired his nickname after his statement, “For human beings to destroy God’s creation, degrade the integrity of the earth and contaminate the planet’s waters, land and air, all of these are sins!”
He was elected to the ministry of ecumenical patriarch in October 1991. As part of the celebrations for his 30th anniversary as patriarch, Bartholomew visited the United States; his last visit was 12 years ago. While here, he visited with President Biden at the White House, met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department, and visited the Turkish Embassy at the invitation of Hasan Murat Mercan, Turkish ambassador to the United States. The patriarch also met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill, following a reception at the United Methodist Building hosted by the National Council of Churches USA.
He inaugurated the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He also helped to raise a cross on top of the rebuilt Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City, which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001, attacks. His 30 years as patriarch have been marked by his outreach in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, which included formal Apostolic visitations with Roman Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders throughout the world.
Pope Francis, who shares a close relationship with Patriarch Bartholomew, sent a message on the occasion of the anniversary, saying he was grateful for their “profound personal bond from the time of the inauguration of my Papal ministry, when you honored me with your presence in Rome. I join you in thanksgiving to the Lord for the many blessings bestowed upon your life and ministry over these years, and pray that God, from whom all gifts come, will grant you health, spiritual joy and abundant grace to sustain every aspect of your lofty service.”
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of Notre Dame University, welcomed Patriarch Bartholomew, saying that it was a truly “historic moment in the life of Our Lady’s University.”
He added, “The Ecumenical Patriarch is celebrated around the world for his commitment to interfaith dialogue, for his dedication to peace, for his defense of religious liberty, and for his support of migrants and all who are marginalized and for his witness that a crime in the name of religion is a crime against religion. Patriarch Bartholomew is especially revered for his prophetic voice on the environment, which equates love of the Creator with devotion to his creation.”
In conferring the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa, Father Jenkins said to Patriarch Bartholomew, “For 30 years, you have served on the ecumenical throne and have been a steadfast and inspired leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide and a remarkable light to all nations and peoples. You have been courageous in your call for unity among Christians, for eternal respect among all women and men and a shared commitment to the common good. You have been profoundly and particularly prophetic in your call for protection of the environment, leading the world’s institutions and religious communities to greater sensitivity in action on behalf of our common home, and we cannot fail to acclaim your leadership on behalf of the fundamental right of religious freedom.”
The ecumenical patriarch has been the recipient of 35 honorary degrees, and in 1997, he was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by the U.S. Congress.
In my next column, I would like to share some highlights of the patriarch’s speech in reference to the care of the environment and COVID-19.
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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