The ecumenical patriarch is considered the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide and the successor to Andrew the Apostle. His All Holiness Bartholomew I is the 270th archbishop of Constantinople (above, left) and he now has a Siena t-shirt in his closet.
The director of Siena's Laudato Si’ Center for Integral Ecology, Br. Michael Perry, O.F.M. (above, middle), participated in a training session for Franciscans in Istanbul, Turkey in October. Franciscans from around the world gathered to engage in dialogue for peace, fraternity, and human solidarity across the various faith traditions: Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and others. While in Istanbul, Br. Michael presented the goals of Siena's Laudato Si’ Center to His All Holiness, along with a Siena shirt.
For more than 20 years, the Ecumenical Patriarch has provided leadership and inspiration on issues related to the global climate crisis and has urged people of faith to commit to action on behalf of the climate. The Department of Integral Ecology at the Franciscan university Antonianum in Rome awarded an honorary doctor of philosophy to the Ecumenical Patriarch in 2020 in recognition of his deep commitment to promoting a vision of integral ecology.
Soon after Br. Michael returned from Turkey, he received a letter from His All Holiness (below).
Br. Michael and newly arrived Br. Jacek Orzechowski, assistant director of the Center for Integral Ecology, invite students to visit the Carriage House (adjacent to the Grotto), which will soon be renamed the Laudato Si Center for Integral Ecology. The Center, in collaboration with other member institutions of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU), is preparing a baseline questionnaire to assess current understanding of and engagement of students on issues related to climate change, global warming, and the role they might play in addressing these critical issues.
The annual week of prayer for unity among Christians ended yesterday, but in the spirit of faith promoting peace and a sense of shared responsibility for the environment, Br. Michael encourages all to reflect on this prayer from day five:
“Gracious God, You who are the source of all love and goodness: enable us to see the needs of our neighbour. Show us what we can do to bring about healing. Change us, so that we can love all our brothers and sisters. Help us to overcome the obstacles of division, that we might build a world of peace for the common good. Thank you for renewing your Creation and leading us to a future which is full of hope: you who are Lord of all, yesterday, today, and forever. Amen”
Following Br. Michael's visit to Istanbul, the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed a letter to Br. Michael and Siena College encouraging the school’s engagement and commitment to their shared mission. This is an excerpt from the letter:
“We hope that Siena College's new Center for Integral Ecology will be a beacon of enlightenment to everyone regarding the many challenges facing our planet. Considering our Church's long-term stance on this issue, as Ecumenical Patriarch, we sincerely appreciate your dedication to this crucial case and firmly believe that your efforts will resonate with individuals throughout the globe. The message of environmental stewardship transcends boundaries and confessions; it reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect and nurture the fragile gift God has entrusted to us.”
