[Pages H4397-H4398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING HIS ALL-HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

  (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

[[Page H4398]]

  

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome to 
America His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He is the 
spiritual head of the second-largest Christian church in the world and 
leads over a million Greek Orthodox in the U.S. He is here this month 
to meet with government leaders and to receive the distinguished 
Templeton Prize.
  Throughout His All-Holiness' decades as Ecumenical Patriarch, he has 
sought to bring together people of all faiths to combat religious 
intolerance and enhance understanding. He convened an interfaith 
international conference on Peace and Religious Tolerance in Istanbul. 
The conference brought together Christians, Jews, and Muslims to find 
ways to encourage understanding and peaceful coexistence among 
followers of the three faiths.
  The Patriarch has been honored also by the United Nations, the 
European Union, and dozens of governments, universities, and 
institutions. In 1997, he was honored with the Congressional Gold 
Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, I welcome His All-Holiness to the United States.

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