"The patriarch is adhering to the notion that the current authorities [president, government, parliament] are legal and legitimate and, according to Gospel, must be respected as the result of the will of the people," Tucic explained. "Patriarch Irinej has 'depoliticised' the church, since during the illness of his predecessor, Patriarch Pavle, some bishops had politically exposed themselves, which is now far less likely."
„Patrijarh rezonuje tako da su postojeće vlasti (predsednik, vlada, parlament) zakonite i legitimne i da se, po Jevanđelju, moraju poštovati, jer su rezultat volje naroda“, objašnjava Tucić. „Patrijarh Irinej je depolitizovao crkvu, pošto su se za vreme bolesti njegovog prethodnika, Patrijarha Pavla, neke vladike politički 'razotkrile', što je danas daleko manje verovatno.“