Patr. Theophilos III Plans Meetings With Putin and Zelensky to Pursue Peace in Ukraine

ATHENS — In a written interview with Breitbart News during the outlet's recent trip to Greece, Patr. Theophilos III of Jerusalem said he was preparing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an effort to promote dialogue and help end the war in Ukraine, which he said has caused deep suffering and division within the Orthodox Church.

He further said the Patriarchate of Jerusalem holds a distinctive position that gives it a responsibility to work for reconciliation both within the Orthodox Church and beyond it.

His Holiness said he believed his own position carried a particular responsibility for peacemaking. He met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in June, when he presented the president with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. According to Patr. Theophilos, Trump also endorsed his efforts to help mediate in the Ukrainian conflict.

Here, the Church was first revealed. The Patriarchate is recognized worldwide as the "Mother Church," as well as being the Church of the Holy Land, the Church that ministers in the places where the events of the salvation of the human race took place. Therefore, the mission of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is not limited to a specific church or solely to the care of particular holy sites. The responsibility of this Church is far broader than that. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is a point of reference for unity, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence among peoples. We live this every day in the Holy Land, and we seek to support those in regions of the world beset by disunity and conflict. The ministry of reconciliation, both at home and globally, is our greatest challenge and our greatest responsibility today.

As Patriarch, I have a unique role. My vocation is first and foremost to worship God, and I must also tend to my flock — whether indigenous or pilgrim. Yet the Patriarch of Jerusalem is also a peacemaker. Religious leaders around the world possess the spiritual and moral authority to speak into conflicts and promote peace in ways that few others can. The lessons we learn in ministry teach us to listen well, and our positions of leadership enable us to elevate the voices of the downtrodden. I was most humbled to receive President Trump’s endorsement in June to serve as a mediator to help bring about a resolution to this conflict. I was deeply humbled by his support in this matter.

“In this spirit, we are working towards meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky as part of these very efforts,” he said, adding that he hoped to establish “channels of communication and constructive dialogue.”

The Patriarch also spoke about the broader divisions among Orthodox Christians caused by the war. “Through this war, the Church suffers,” he said, emphasizing the need for Orthodox Christians to remember their fundamental unity despite disagreements. He pointed to the 2020 Amman Fraternal Gathering on Dialogue and Unity as an example of efforts to restore communication among Orthodox leaders.

As a church, we must work to heal the wounds within the Orthodox church, so that our fraternal bonds might be strong once again. As countries, my prayer is that Russia and Ukraine can find the means to enter into dialogue, focused not only on the end to hostilities but to the flourishing of Ukrainians and Russians alike. Back in 2023, while on an official visit to the Vatican, meeting the late Pope Francis, I committed myself and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to assist any and all parties on the journey towards reconciliation. This is our spiritual mission. There is one word I want to emphasize, and that is journey. I do not believe reconciliation and peace can happen overnight, but we must begin the process. Let us start with the basics. Those in power must be willing actively to listen to one another. But equally critically we must listen to the voices of the families, children, and communities who are suffering.

Patr. Theophilos further connected his peace efforts to the conflicts in the Middle East, recalling his Paschal message calling Christians to pray and work for an end to bloodshed. “We pray for those in power to continue having the courage, determination and strength to show restraint and commit themselves to this hard task of negotiation and reconciliation,” he said.

He also expressed hope that Trump could contribute significantly to international peacemaking, saying the U.S. president's influence made him an important figure in efforts to end conflicts. Patr. Theophilos urged leaders to look beyond battlefield gains toward rebuilding communities, reuniting families and securing a future for children.

Concluding his remarks, Patr. Theophilos appealed to the language of the Gospel and the Christian vocation to peace. “I would like to leave President Trump with the words of Christ, ‘blessed are the peacemakers.’”

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Theophilos awarded Trump an Orthodox honor.