Recognizing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Floor Speech

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Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States of America as he accepts the prestigious and well-deserved Templeton Prize, one of the world's most prestigious awards in Religion and Science.

On behalf of the thousands of Greek Orthodox constituents who call the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District home and the more than 300 million followers worldwide, it is an honor to host the longest serving Archbishop of Constantinople in the Church's history and a humbling opportunity to say thank you for his efforts on behalf of the entire human family. Since being elevated to primus inter plares (first among equals) in 1991, he has worked tirelessly to promote religious freedom and human rights, foster cooperation and understanding among all people of faith, convene peace conferences around the globe, and call all of us to care for and preserve the environment we all share and will pass to our children and our children's children. His personal attention and institutional leadership to address issues that transcend borders or religious affiliation have led him being hailed as ``The Bridge Builder'', ``The Patriarch of Peace'', and the ``Green Patriarch.''

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's words and deeds have been in pursuit of justice, love, and reconciliation. And his lifetime of service and leadership has placed him among the illustrious company of previous Templeton Prize honorees--The Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and the first ever recipient, Mother Teresa.

As His All-Holiness reminds us, ``We have it in our power either to increase the hurt inflicted on our world or to contribute toward its healing. The choice is ours.'' and each day he rises and chooses serve, to lead, to guide, to empower, and to divine God's grace into healing. And it is my humbling honor to note for the Congressional Record the unique gift of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's leadership and spiritual guidance and for his innumerable contributions to peace and harmony during his visit to the United States.

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