We extend our special paternal greetings and our heartfelt Patriarchal blessing to the youth, who constitute not only our future but also our dynamic present, since there is no future without the present. From the Mother Church we express her and our boundless and sincere empathy with regard to the problems of contemporary youth throughout the world and consider these problems to be ours.

We shall by no means neglect theological studies during the period of our humble Patriarchy, not only because this is the tradition of our Church, but also because it is our personal conviction; we shall pursue their promotion that they might reach an efficacious interpretation of Orthodox tradition in our contemporary era. The Ecumenical Patriarchate must acquire its own means of fostering and projecting Orthodox Theology. Within this framework we shall pursue the acquisition of permission from our state authorities in office for the reopening of the Alma Mater, the Theological School of Halki, which was compelled to discontinue its operation twenty years ago. Furthermore, the publication of an official ecclesiastical-theological periodical of the Patriarchate, the expounder of its theological thought and unbroken traditions, will constitute a major concern and primary interest of our Humble Selves.