[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E843-E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     WELCOMING ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 15, 2025

  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and welcome His All-
Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop of 
Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, who visits the United 
States this week to receive the prestigious Templeton Prize. As the 
spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide and the 
longest-serving Archbishop of Constantinople in the Church's two-
thousand-year history, His All-Holiness distinguishes himself as a 
global advocate for peace, reconciliation, and religious freedom.
  Elected in 1991, Bartholomew leads efforts to unify the Orthodox 
Church and other faiths across national and cultural boundaries. He

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convenes councils, restores long-oppressed churches, and recognizes the 
independence of emerging Orthodox churches. His tireless efforts to 
bring together Christians of different traditions do not go unnoticed.
  His All-Holiness is a champion for interfaith dialogue and a 
steadfast advocate for interfaith understanding. He builds meaningful 
relationships with Muslim and Jewish leaders in the Middle East, 
Europe, and beyond. He consistently speaks for peace and emphasizes 
that religious freedom and tolerance are essential to global stability, 
even as he faces persecution and harassment in his homeland.
  Bartholomew is also a steward for the environment who organizes 
international ecological symposia and advocates for waterway 
preservation. His call for September 1 to be a day of prayer for the 
environment earned him the title ``the Green Patriarch,'' a role he 
continues to embrace.
  His relationship with the United States is long and distinguished. He 
received the Congressional Gold Medal from President Bill Clinton in 
1997 and has since met Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe 
Biden, as well as other U.S. leaders, in recognition of his 
contributions to global peace and understanding.
  As His All-Holiness is in our Nation's Capital once again, his visit 
highlights his extraordinary leadership. Ecumenical Patriarch 
Bartholomew continues to devote his life to advancing peace, fostering 
understanding across faiths, and promoting human dignity. His 
leadership continues to inspire communities in the United States and 
around the world.

                          ____________________