In a warm letter, His All-Holiness the Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, places this year’s edition of RhodesMRC “under the spiritual auspices and blessing of the Mother Holy Great Church of Christ,” while offering his best wishes for the success of the conference.
RhodesMRC is an international youth leadership platform where high school and university students, as well as young scholars, assume the roles of diplomats to simulate the proceedings of major international organizations such as the Council of Europe, NATO, and the Union for the Mediterranean. Since 2010, the conference has welcomed more than 4,500 young people from 32 countries, with over 400 participants expected for this year’s two editions.
In an era defined by complex challenges and global uncertainty, RhodesMRC provides the younger generation with a safe forum for a fruitful exchange of ideas, cultivating the core values of solidarity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence. Rhodes, serving as a timeless crossroads of peoples, religions, and cultures, offers the ideal setting for young minds to grasp the true essence of diplomacy and reconciliation, shaping the responsible and active citizens of tomorrow.
Furthermore, Rhodes constitutes an historic province of the Ecumenical Throne. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch—who celebrates 35 years on the Patriarchal Throne this year—are among the most active and universally recognized religious leaders, consistently advocating for the Protection of the Natural Environment, Intercultural Dialogue, and Peaceful Coexistence among Nations.
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RhodesMRC 2026 is organized by the House of Europe in Rhodes, the Region of South Aegean, the Municipality of Rhodes, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dodecanese, the Department of Mediterranean Studies of the University of the Aegean, and Europe Direct South Aegean. It is held under the auspices of H.A.H. the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Technical Chamber of Greece.
The University Edition will take place on October 07–11, 2026, followed by the High School Edition on November 05–08, 2026. For more information and registration, visit www.rhodesmrc.org.
