On Monday, 29 January 2024, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made his way to Vathyryakos (Büyükdere) to visit the Roman Catholic Church of Santa Maria, where on Sunday morning, during the usual mass, two terrorists attacked and murdered a middle-aged man.
The Patriarch spoke with Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, the priest of the church, Fr. Anthony Bulai, and other faithful who were present, to whom he expressed the sympathy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as his satisfaction with the effective police investigation of the tragic incident.
Speaking to reporters immediately afterwards, His All-Holiness again condemned the heinous attack, praised the interest and immediate mobilisation of the Local Authorities, and wished that such heinous events would never take place again.