Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was featured on the CBS news programme "60 Minutes," on December 20. Patriarch Bartholomew was invited to give his account on the history of the Christian Orthodox Church, and its development in modern times.

The Patriarch spoke of the restrictions posed by the Turkish authorities to himself and the functions of the Patriarchate, and objected to being - himself and the Greek minority - "treated as second class Turkish citizens."

Commenting on the Patriarch’s statements, Turkey’s Foreign Minister labelled the comments as "extremely unfortunate."

Following the remark, the Greek Foreign Ministry issued an announcement according to which "the Patriarch is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians who constitute the second largest Christian Church in the world.

It is a leader recognised for his wisdom and modesty, but also for his steadfast support over Turkey’s accession to the European Union. Whenever the disappointment of a leader of such calibre is illustrated with such clarity it is everyone’s duty, let alone of those responsible for the Patriarchate and the Greek minority in Turkey, to take heed."

Source: GREEK NEWS AGENDA issued by the Secretariat Genera

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