His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Remarks at the Audience with
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW
The Pilgrimage “Rome to New Rome”
July 20, 2025
The Phanar
New Rome
Your All-Holiness,
We Pilgrims – Roman Catholic and Orthodox, co-led by our dear brother His Eminence Cardinal Tobin, come into the presence of Your All-Holiness with abiding gratitude for the ecumenical companionship that we have experienced in this fellowship of mutual seeking and journeying.
We have come from Elder Rome – where we were received with warmth and friendship by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV – to New Rome, to Constantinople, which resounds yet with a deep theological and historical legacy.
Your All-Holiness, our group of pilgrims is traveling on a voyage of discovery – to reveal once again the essential and common faith of Nicaea in our own lives, and in the lives of our communities.
As Ecumenical Patriarch, Your All-Holiness embodies the living memory of the Seven Holy Ecumenical Councils, which commenced and came to their fulfillment in Nicaea.
These golden centuries of Patristic thought and theology are held firm in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, which are represented here today by our beloved brother Cardinal Tobin and the sincere pilgrims.
In advance of our sojourn to Nicaea on Tuesday, His Eminence Cardinal Tobin – most assuredly known to Your All-Holiness – will offer his reflections on the depths of meanings of this Pilgrimage to this Sacred Center from which our common Faith springs.
His Eminence has a most distinguished record of ministry in the Church – and always true to his Redemptorist beginnings – he brings forth the most grace-filled and compassionate qualities of our Lord and Redeemer Himself.
Thank you, Your All-Holiness, for receiving us with such warmth and agape.
And thank you, Your Eminence, for your fraternal love and leadership, on behalf of all the Pilgrims.
Photos: Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman