Patriarch Bartholomew called the war in Ukraine "fratricidal" and called for its end

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, speaking in Bucharest on October 26, 2025, again described the war in Ukraine as «fratricidal» and called for its immediate end. In his speech, he also addressed the situation in the Middle East and emphasized the spiritual rather than political mission of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

«We mourn the ongoing fratricidal war against Ukraine unleashed by the Russian Federation. From the very first moment, we have called for its immediate cessation. We must resist the use of our holy faith for purely political purposes,» said Patriarch Bartholomew.

In his speech, the Patriarch also touched upon the situation in the Middle East. He noted the peacekeeping efforts undertaken by U.S. President Donald J. Trump. «While we applaud the peacemaking efforts of US President Donald J. Trump, we are all obliged to strengthen our efforts to build bridges, not destroy houses. The fate of Christianity in the land that gave life to our Savior hangs in the balance,» the head of the Phanar stressed.

In conclusion of his address, he assured that the Patriarchate of Constantinople is «a supranational, purely spiritual institution, whose strength comes not from the thirst for power, but from the power of love.» According to him, the Patriarchate is committed to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, based on the Gospel, rather than solutions based on secular politics.

As a reminder, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, recently issued a call for the international community to join forces to end the conflict in Ukraine. He emphasized that the contribution of all key world players, including the USA, Europe and China, was needed to achieve peace and noted the importance of humanitarian initiatives as a step towards a settlement.