[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 149 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      WELCOMING HIS ALL-HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EUGENE SIMON VINDMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2025

  Mr. VINDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and welcome His All-
Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington, D.C. He serves 
as the spiritual leader and Primus inter Pares (First among Equals) of 
Orthodox Christianity worldwide, a Church of 300 million people.
  Later this month, His All-Holiness will visit the United States to 
receive the Templeton Prize, the world's most prestigious international 
award at the intersection of religion and science. This honor is 
awarded annually to those who advance Sir John Templeton's vision of 
progress in religion through discoveries and insights that deepen our 
understanding across faiths. Since being elected Ecumenical Patriarch, 
Bartholomew has been a courageous voice for unity, religious freedom, 
and environmental stewardship. His leadership has left a lasting mark 
on both the Orthodox world and the entire global community.
  This will not be his first visit to the United States. When he came 
in 1997, he was received in the Oval Office by President Bill Clinton 
and First Lady Hillary Clinton, who hosted a White House reception in 
his honor. He was also presented with the Congressional Gold Medal in 
the U.S. Capitol Rotunda by Speaker Newt Gingrich, a rare and 
distinguished honor. The State Department hosted him in the Ben 
Franklin Room, and Vice President Al Gore welcomed him at a breakfast 
at the Vice President's Residence.
  These visits remind us of the enduring spiritual and cultural bonds 
between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the United States. As we 
prepare to welcome His All-Holiness once again, we recognize not just 
the leader of a faith, but a global advocate for justice, peace, and 
human dignity.
  On behalf of Virginia's 7th District Greek Orthodox community, it is 
an honor to welcome him to Washington.

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