“You have an enormous responsibility and task before God and before men,” said Bartholomew, the first patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church to attend a papal investiture since the two branches of Christianity broke apart almost a millennium ago.

“The unity of the Christian churches is the first and foremost of our concerns,” he added.

The symbolism of the event outweighed the substance, as Francis did not delve into any specifics, instead speaking broadly of collaboration and good will. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was committed to the interfaith goals set by the Second Vatican Council but made several high-profile decisions and statements that inflamed Jews and Muslims.