Recognizing the Spiritual Head, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Floor Speech
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Spiritual Head and leader of the second largest Christian Church in the world. His All-Holiness is visiting Washington, D.C. in conjunction with his acceptance of the distinguished Templeton Prize in New York City--an honor previously bestowed on Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, among others. While here, he will visit both the White House and the Congress.
Elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2,000-year-old Church founded by the Apostle Andrew, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. He is also a leading figure in the dialogues among the Abrahamic Faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--and his presence in our Nation's capital is an opportunity to highlight the positive role religious leaders of his stature bring to the cause of peace and religious liberty.
The true peacemakers of history not only sought to reduce conflict but also showed compassion toward those who persecuted them. Patriarch Bartholomew fits that definition precisely. Despite facing harassment by foreign governments and attacks by extremists, he has remained steadfast in his mission to promote reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and human dignity.
His contributions have been recognized around the globe. In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the United States Congress. The Guardian identified him as one of the world's foremost leaders in raising environmental awareness. And Time Magazine, in its category of Leaders and Revolutionaries, named him one of the world's most influential people.
Mr. Speaker, as we welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington, D.C., let us also celebrate his unwavering commitment to interfaith dialogue, peace, and religious liberty. His leadership serves as a reminder of the power of faith to unite people across nations and traditions.
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