Welcoming His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington, D.C.

Floor Speech

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Mr. HURD of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome His All- Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington, D.C.--the spiritual leader and Primus inter Pares (First among Equals) of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. For decades. he has been a tireless voice for religious freedom, and as the longest serving Archbishop of Constantinople in two millennia of Christian history, he stands as a symbol of faith and resolve. His visit comes as he receives the distinguished Templeton Prize in New York, an honor once bestowed on Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela--leaders whose lives have testified to the power of faith to transcend borders.

As a Catholic, I am deeply moved by the ties between our churches. His All-Holiness has met with Popes across generations, working to strengthen bonds of unity and to advance the cause of peace. Together, they have spoken with one voice: to defend the weak, serve those in need, and pursue reconciliation among nations. Patriarch Bartholomew is also a leading figure in interfaith dialogue among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. His presence here reminds us that faith has a vital role to play in protecting liberty and human dignity.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to welcome him to Washington and to thank him for his steadfast leadership in advancing religious freedom around the world.

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