[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22542-22543]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        WELCOME TO HIS HOLINESS 
                                 ARAM I

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to join 
the many Armenian Americans whom I represent in welcoming His Holiness 
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, to California's 34th 
Congressional District on October 14, 2005. The pontiff is visiting 
California at the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop Moushegh 
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of 
America.
  His Holiness is one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the 
Middle East and a spiritual leader for hundreds of thousands of 
Armenians around the world. The pontiff presently serves as the 
moderator for the World Council of Churches. The World Council of 
Churches represents over 400 million Christians throughout the globe, 
and is comprised of more than 340 churches from different cultures and 
countries. Currently serving his second term, His Holiness is the first 
Orthodox and the youngest person to be elevated to moderator. As the 
moderator of the World Council of Churches, the pontiff has led the way 
to build bridges between people of faith.
  On this special day, His Holiness will meet at Los Angeles City Hall 
with a number of local, State and Federal public officials who 
represent the nearly 400,000 Armenian Americans who live in and around 
southern California. His Holiness will also present the main address at 
a symposium to be held at the University of Southern California that 
will focus on how Christians respond to violence.
  I am confident that when he delivers his address on October 14 
entitled, ``Christianity in the Middle East--Challenges Facing Inter-
religious Dialogue'' at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Armenian 
Americans and Los Angeles residents will hear a valuable message.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that His Holiness has included a visit to 
California's 34th Congressional District during his upcoming visit to 
California, The main theme of his pontifical visit, ``Towards the Light 
of Knowledge'' is a welcome reminder of the powerful role a good 
education can have in promoting a better and more peaceful world. I 
know that my colleagues join me in recognizing His Holiness Aram I, a 
man who has been a strong voice for mutual understanding among 
religions, cultures and civilizations; a true spiritual leader 
committed to peace, justice, and human rights.

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