Fanar: Visit of State Dept head is a source of joy and honor for our Church

Mike Pompeo and Elpidophoros, head of the Phanar Archdiocese of America. Photo: twitter.com/Elpidophoros

On Tuesday, November 17, the Secretary of State of the United States of America Mark Pompeo will visit the see of the Patriarchate of Constantinople "on his own initiative", the official website of Phanar reports.

Istanbul called the visit of the US Secretary of State "a source of joy and honor for the Mother Church".

“Such visits demonstrate the significance and status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution with a long history, which makes an invaluable contribution to global civilization,” says the communiqué of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The visits of US Secretaries of State to Phanar have become almost a tradition. Istanbul recalled that in the past, the Patriarchate of Constantinople was visited by the heads of the US Department of State Madeleine Albright, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton.

Mike Pompeo will discuss "issues of fundamental rights and religious freedom" with Patriarch Bartholomew.

The Phanar expressed its satisfaction and gratitude to the Secretary of State for including a visit to the Patriarchate of Constantinople in his schedule. Pompeo's visit to the Middle East will last for ten days.

As the UOJ reported, the US Secretary of State also intends to meet with the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

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