Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew receives honorary doctorate from Vatican University

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been awarded an honorary doctorate in theology by the ‘San Tommaso d’ Aquino- Angelicum’ university in Rome. The institution is part of the Holy See.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking Catholic clergy, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Following the event, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his emotion regarding the honor, noting his personal history as a former student in Rome during the period of the Second Vatican Council.

The Patriarch highlighted the ongoing and fruitful theological dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He noted that while complex theological issues such as the Filioque and the primacy continue to be discussed, the ultimate goal remains a return to the unity of the first millennium.