Recently, Ambassador Beresford-Hill, on behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta, was invited to an audience with His All Holiness, Bartholomew 1st, Patriarch of Constantinople, and leader of the global Orthodox Church.
Speaking of his visit with the Ecumenical Patriarch, Ambassador Beresford-Hill said:
“His All Holiness is such a humble servant of God, a true religious leader who has forged a strong and enduring relationship with our Holy Father, Pope Francis. We spoke of the hoped-for unity between our communions, something that both leaders are totally committed to, and discussed the humanitarian issues involved in refugee assistance, both in Turkey and in Ukraine, where the Patriarch recently recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, much to the chagrin of the Russian Patriarch Kirill. Patriarch Bartholomew, who has lived in Rome for many years when he was studying theology at the Oriental College there, was very familiar with the work of the Sovereign Order of Malta, and at the end of the audience he gave his blessing to the work of the Order and to its mission of service to the sick and the poor”.
