The non-recognition of the Ecumenical nature of the Patriarchate

Türkiye does not recognize the ecumenical character of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and considers it a purely "minority" ecclesiastical institution and its leader as head, exclusively, of the Greek Orthodox minority in Türkiye.

As of the 6th century AD the Ecumenical Patriarch is, in accordance with the primus inter pares principle, a point of reference for the Eastern Orthodox Church, which consists of almost 300,000,000 believers. The vast majority of secular and religious leaders around the world use the term "Ecumenical" incessantly and without exception, both in their speeches and in their written statements, when addressing the Patriarch of Constantinople. This fact is not in question even in multilateral fora or international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union.

A significant milestone in this direction is the visit of former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Fener, Istanbul, on 17.11.2020, during which the ecumenical character of the Patriarchate of Constantinople was confirmed once again.

In recent years, culminating in the statements, in Athens, in May 2010, by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, R.T. Erdoğan ("it didn't bother my ancestors - it doesn't bother me either"), a political attempt of "disengagement" from the question of “universality” can be seen. However, any intentions will be judged in practice, as highlighted in its opinion (see The future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate) by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, with the recommendation for the use of the term "Ecumenical" by Turkiye itself.