His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, became the preeminent spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians with his enthronement as Ecumenical Patriarch in 1991. As the voice of one of the world's largest and most enduring religious communities, His All Holiness has become an important representative of all people of faith, challenging the modern world to connect its newfound powers to ancient wisdom and to the eternal glory of God.

Bartholomew prepared for this role through a lifetime of dedication to the Church, serving as a scholar, teacher, and administrator, and as a representative of Orthodox Christianity in ecumenical discussions with other Christian bodies. Knowledge of canon law, fluency in many languages, a respect for all persons, and a deep commitment to the unity of all Christians have made His All Holiness an extraordinarily effective agent of reconciliation and peace throughout his career.

As Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew has been an energetic advocate for Christian unity, for human rights, and for the protection of the environment. His All Holiness gives to all people a new example of spiritual leadership that speaks a word of peace and wholeness to the most divisive problems of contemporary life.

For teaching us to respect the image of God in the world's people and in the world of God's creation, Southern Methodist University is honored to award His All Holiness Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, the degree of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa.