Death of Romanian Patriarch Teoctist spreads round the globe

International press agencies along with prestigious publications worldwide have reported today on the death of Romania’s Patriarch Teoctist, head of the Orthodox Church, noting his merits as well as the controversies shrouding his personality.

France Presse dedicated two articles to the Patriarch’s death and a feature story called “A patriarch under two regimes” underlining the contrasts that surrounded his personality. AFP reminds that “dozens of churches dated the XVIII and XIX centuries were destroyed at Ceausescu’s order without the Patriarch protesting.”

Being a deputy in the communist Parliament, Teoctist expressed his support toward the communist dictator Ceausescu in a letter blaming “the hooligans” whose rebellion led to the regime’s collapse in December 1989. Ten years later the patriarch made a historical step in conciliating the Orthodox and Catholic Churches inviting Pope John Paul II to visit Bucharest.

Following the Pope’s visit, Teoctist promised to be more flexible regarding the Greek Catholics’ requests to recover the churches seized by communists in 1948 but eight years later things were the same. The patriarch militated against legalizing homosexual relationships endorsed in 2001 and dedicated his last years to the People’s Salvation Cathedral, a project criticized by many Romanians.

AFP’s articles appeared in French daily La Croix, electronic edition, and were broadcast by the Swiss radio station Romandie. The Spanish press agency EFE, the Italian ANSA, the German DPA, the Bulgarian Sofia News Agency and the Russian Interfax have also mentioned the patriarch’s death and his accomplishments.

The government decided on Monday afternoon to declare national mourning the day the funeral will take place. Church officials have not decided yet on that day. The country’s broadcast regulator, National Audio-Visual Council (CNA), recommended television and radio stations not to broadcast entertainment programs on the patriarch’s burial day.