Will the Interior Minister also take an interest in this letter written to Trump?

In 2019, while reacting to the son of Netanyahu, who called Istanbul "Constantinople," with the words, "If you go any further, our methods of discipline are different. We know how to discipline you in that way, too. This place is now Istanbul," Erdoğan warned, referring to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality elections: "This is Istanbul, or by another name, Islambol. This is not Constantinople, but there are those who want to see it as such. We have 22 days against those who want to see it this way."

When it was revealed in 2024 that Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew had been invited to the Ukraine peace summit held in Switzerland with the title "Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople," alongside Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated that "there has been no change in our state policy regarding the status of the Fener Greek Patriarchate." Meanwhile, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, a partner in the People's Alliance, said, "It is unacceptable for the Fener Greek Patriarch to be invited to the summit with the title of so-called 'Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.'" Reminding everyone of the Treaty of Lausanne and that "there is no city called Constantinople within the borders of the Republic of Turkey," Bahçeli emphasized that "they will never surrender to those who play the ecumenical card."

Last December, Bahçeli reacted as follows to the announcement that the Halki Seminary would open in September, and to the ceremony held in Iznik by the US colonial governor Tom Barrack, Bartholomew, and Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea:

"What is it if not an overreach of authority and an irresponsible outburst for the US Ambassador to Ankara to say that the Halki Seminary will open in 2026? Will this ambassador make the aforementioned decision, or will the Republic of Turkey? It is clear that these domineering, intrusive, and impositional attempts, proposals, and assessments do not take our honor of independence and future into account, and that they know no bounds in their recklessness and insolence. Our issue is not the Pope's visit or his diplomatic initiatives. Our issue is the activities to revive the memory of the Council and its memories that have remained in the dark."

In response to some assessments regarding the consequences of Pope Leo XIV coming to Turkey for the Council of Nicaea, the Presidential Directorate of Communications responded to claims that "The visit is a political operation within the scope of a renewed 'Crusader spirit' and 'Roman project'; it aims to harm Turkey-Russia relations by making the Fener Greek Patriarchate the center of all Orthodox Christians... The Pope's visit has granted the Fener Greek Patriarchate 'ecumenical' status" with the following:

- "Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey is neither a threat to our country's sovereignty nor an initiative that calls Turkey's historical achievements into question. On the contrary, the visit is a diplomatic contact shaped around peace, cultural heritage, and humanitarian values."

- "The status granted by Turkey to the Fener Greek Patriarchate was determined in the Treaty of Lausanne; there is no change in question."

The Second Letter Scandal

But Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew did not pay any attention and continued to do as he pleased; he officially added the title "Patriarch of Constantinople-New Rome" next to the title of "Ecumenical Patriarch."

It will be remembered that last January, he sent an official letter to King Felipe VI of Spain with this exact title.

Likewise, he was hosted last week at the 18th World Policy Conference held in France with the title "Patriarch of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch" again.

And here is his latest act:

He signed the letter he sent to Trump the day after the armed attack attempt at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner with the same title again.

As is known, the Fener Greek Patriarchate is a Turkish institution according to Lausanne, and it is subordinate to the Fatih District Governorship, and the District Governorship is subordinate to the Ministry of Interior.

What we are saying is; would Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, who called the boss of the mining workers protesting in Ankara and gave the instruction, "Pay the workers' receivables, let this protest end," and whose instruction was carried out, wonder if he might also call Patriarch Bartholomew and give the warning, "Do not violate Lausanne. There is no city called Constantinople within the borders of the Republic of Turkey. Do not use that title again"?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

April 30, 2026