Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to appear on 60 Minutes

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December 17, 2009

His All Holiness Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians who constitute the second largest Christian church in the world, will be featured on the CBS News program 60 Minutes reported by Bob Simon, scheduled to air on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST. The segment will focus on the Orthodox Church, the most ancient Christian church, and its development from its earliest years to modern times in what is now the Republic of Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarch is in a unique position as a Christian leader in a Muslim environment. His All Holiness is the 270th successor to the see of St. Andrew the Apostle, who founded the 2000-year-old church of Constantinople (ancient Byzantium, modern Istanbul). Despite hostility from some elements of Turkish society, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has been an outspoken supporter of Turkey's modernization and acceptance into the European Union. He has also worked for reconciliation among Christian churches and cooperation among Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and indeed all faith communities.

His All Holiness brought about Muslim leaders' first condemnation of the 9/11 attacks on America as anti-religious acts. He was named 11th among the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine and was awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts to promote human rights and religious tolerance. He is the first international environmental leader recognized by the United Nations as a Laureate Champion of the Earth for his pioneering work to protect the environment. Affectionately known as "the Green Patriarch," Patriarch Bartholomew has called upon leaders of all religious traditions to join him in this effort, noting simply that "If life is sacred, so is the entire web that sustains it."

His All Holiness speaks to CBS News Anchor Bob Simon of 60 Minutes inside the empty classrooms of the Halki Orthodox Theological Seminary. The Patriarchal Institution was shut down by Turkish authorities in 1971. (Photos by N. Manginas)

His All Holiness recently concluded an extended visit to the U.S., where he participated in an environmental symposium in Mississippi, ministered to the five million Orthodox faithful in America, and met with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and national religious leaders. He is the author of Encountering the Mystery (Doubleday) and In the World, Yet Not of the World (Fordham).

60 Minutes is the pre-eminent investigative television news show in the United States and has run on CBS since 1968. It has been among the top-rated TV programs for much of its life and has garnered numerous awards over the years. The show will also be broadcast over the internet on the 60 Minutes website: www.60minutes.com <http://www.60minutes.com>

Source: goarch.org