[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22962-22963]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   ON THE DEATH OF PATRIARCH TEOCTIST

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2007

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, on Monday, July 30, Patriarch 
Teoctist, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, died in Bucharest 
of complications after a surgery. He was 92 years old and had not been 
in good health for several weeks.
  As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Helsinki 
Commission, I have been very concerned and active on issues regarding 
the promotion of human rights and children's rights in Romania. I have 
visited Romania five times--both when it was under Communist rule and 
since 1990--and I know Patriarch Teoctist was respected and beloved by 
millions of Romanians. He became patriarch in 1986, resigned 
immediately after the revolution in 1989 that overthrew the 
dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaucescu, but was recalled by the Holy Synod 
of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

[[Page 22963]]

  Madam Speaker, after 1990 Teoctist promoted ecumenical dialogue. He 
invited Pope John Paul II to visit Romania. This visit took place in 
1999 in Bucharest, where Teoctist met with Pope John Paul II, embraced 
him fraternally and prayed with him. What a magnificent gesture! It was 
the first time the Roman pontiff visited a predominantly Orthodox 
country since the schism of 1054.
  At this time of sorrow, I wish to express my condolences to the 
Romanian Orthodox believers and confidence and prayers that Teoctist 
rest in peace.

                          ____________________