Welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew's 2025 Visit to the United States

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Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend a warm welcome to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew, the spiritual leader and ``First Among Equals'' of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. During this historic visit to the United States, His All-Holiness will receive the Templeton Prize-- the world's most prestigious award in Religion and Science.

Patriarch Bartholomew's efforts to promote religious freedom and human rights and his initiatives to advance religious tolerance among the world's religions, together with his work toward international peace and environmental protection, have justly placed him at the forefront of global visionaries as an apostle of love, peace, and reconciliation.

We are privileged to host the longest-serving Archbishop of Constantinople in history here in our Nation's Capital, as he meets with the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. His visit to the United States serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to fostering mutual respect and religious tolerance on a global level.

I look forward to the opportunity to welcome His All-Holiness and express our collective gratitude for his continued leadership and dedication to the cause of peace and religious liberty. In the words of His All-Holiness: ``If our age will be remembered, it may be for those who dedicated themselves to the cause of peace.''

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