Welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Floor Speech

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Ms. POU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States. On behalf of the many Eastern Orthodox Christians who call New Jersey home, including my constituents at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Clifton, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and express deep admiration to His All- Holiness for his ongoing efforts to foster peace, understanding, and stewardship of our shared planet.

Leading the church since 1991, His All-Holiness serves as a spiritual guide for more than 300 million faithful Orthodox Christians around the world. His commitment to engaging with communities and governments around the globe, regardless of faith, has made him one of the most recognizable and respected religious figures of our time.

While in the United States, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of science and spirituality. He will join the company of other spiritual leaders like Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama. I am honored to add my voice to the chorus of others who welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch to the United States and honor him for his lifetime of incredible service and work.

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