Bartholomew invites Pope Francis to Fener Greek Patriarchate

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

In this photo provided by the Vatican paper L' Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis meets Bartholomew I, the first ecumenical patriarch to attend the installation of a Pope since the Catholic and Orthodox church split nearly 1,000 years ago, at the Vatican Wednesday, March 20, 2013. AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew said today that he invited Pope Francis to come and visit the Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul during his own recent visit to the Vatican.

“We believe Pope Francis will serve Christians and all humanity. We have invited him to our Patriarchate. As you know, the last three popes formally visited our Patriarchate. We can work together toward the unity of Christians,” Bartholomew told reporters.

The patriarch said the potential visit by Pope Francis to Turkey would require an official invitation from the president.

“The pope said that he would like to come to Turkey. Our president has to invite him and I am sure that he would do this,” Bartholomew said.

Bartholomew also said his recent visit to Rome had gone very well and that he felt they had ushered in a new era of cooperation with the new pontiff.