Ambassador's remarks and public events

Remarks by Ambassador Ross Wilson

Dinner in honor of His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

December 1, 2006
Istanbul, Turkey

 

Your All Holiness, Your Eminences, Esteemed Archons, distinguished guests.

It is humbling, and also a proud moment for me, to be asked to speak this evening in honor of the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew, and to do so in the city which has been home to the institution he represents for nearly 2000 years.

I say that in recognition of His All Holiness’s status as a religious figure, statesman, advocate of understanding, respect and love among peoples, and friend whom I was deeply honored to meet three and one-half years ago in Baku and with whom I have shared several conversations in the twelve months since I came to this country.  His All Holiness and other citizens of this land have taught me a great deal about Turkey’s proud history of religious diversity and tolerance.  Just like the diverse faces we see here tonight, this city’s many institutions of worship representing many faiths are tribute to that tradition.

The continuing presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey is a crucial link with the past.  At a time when talk of a “clash of civilizations” is all too widespread, this presence is a living testament to the reality of, and need for, co-existence and community among Christians, Moslems, Jews and others.  The role you play, Your High Holiness, and the roles of other religious leaders here – Moslem, Christian and Jew – are all extremely important for meeting the spiritual needs of believers, for advancing mutual understanding and respect among peoples, and for securing religious freedom and freedom of conscience here and elsewhere in the world.  The visit of Pope Benedict this past week illustrated this very well.

It is for those reasons and because of the longstanding commitment of the United States to religious freedom in the world that we have given special attention to the health and welfare of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.  The United States stands with His All Holiness, with the Turkish government and with the people of this wonderful land urging and seeking ways forward to ensure that the patriarchate can continue to play this important role.  We strongly support the reopening of the Halki seminary, which I’m so happy a number of you visited earlier this week, because its renewed operation will contribute so significantly to maintaining this country’s diversity and its traditions of tolerance and respect.  The United States attaches similar importance to the return of church properties and to ensuring respect for the rights of the Synod to lead the Church as it faces the future.  And we have urged acceptance that the title “ecumenical” reflects respect for a statesman, for a Turkish institution of global importance, and for the proposition that this is and will remain the home of free people where equal rights are secured for all citizens regardless of faith or creed.

When I met His All Holiness for the first time, I was struck by his warmth and optimism about the world.  As ambassador of the United States of America, I am proud to be associated with him and with all of you who care about him, about the institution he represents, and about the bright and promising future of this city and this country.