Lisbon – May 2024. In the Throne Room at the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon, the Hon Consul General of Tonga to Portugal, Anthony Bailey, was received in audience by His All Holiness Bartholomew I , 270th Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch since 1991.
His All Holiness is regarded as the primus inter pares (first among equals) in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and as the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodoxy. Eastern Orthodoxy is the second largest Christian communion in the world after the Roman Catholic Church, with many estimates of baptised members being in the region of 300 million believers.
During the discussions we recalled our earlier meetings in Britain, Turkey, Vatican City State and Austria. I also briefed the Ecumenical Patriarch on the religious communities in Tonga and on issues related to climate change and Environment which His All Holiness is a vocal campaigner.
A true spiritual giant who just turned 84 a few weeks ago, the Patriarch is among the leading Christian leaders forging ever closer ties between the globe Christian community and wider faiths.
The Patriarch is a regular inclusion in The Times 100 most influential people in the world list. He has developed a very deep personal relationship with HH Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury among others.
In October 2019 the Hon Consul General travelled on pilgrimage to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.
For more information on the Ecumenical Patriarchate please visit www.ec-patr.org
