Ecumenical Patriarch pays tribute to Pope Benedict

(Feb. 27, 2013) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople on Tuesday issued a statement paying tribute to Pope Benedict XVI and his commitment to Christian unity. “It is with regret that we have learned of the decision by His Holiness Pope Benedict to retire from his Throne, because with his wisdom and experience he could have provided much more to the Church and the world,” he said. “Pope Benedict leaves an indelible mark on the life and history of the Roman Catholic Church, sealed not only by his brief papacy, but also by his broad and longstanding contribution as a theologian and hierarch of his Church, as well as his universally acknowledged prestige,” the Ecumenical Patriarch added. “His writings will long speak of his deep theological understanding, through his knowledge of the Fathers of the undivided Church, his familiarity with contemporary reality, and his keen interest in the problems of humankind.”
Patriarch Bartholomew also said “We Orthodox will always honour him as a friend of our Church and a faithful servant of the sacred proposition for the union of all. We remember with emotion his visit to the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate over six years ago, together with the numerous encounters and excellent cooperation, which we enjoyed throughout the duration of his ministry.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has 3.5 million members, while the largest Orthodox church (the Russian Orthodox) has 110 million members.