Mike Lawler: “I rise to welcome to the United States His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the…”

“I rise to welcome to the United States His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, including my wife, and the head of the second largest Christian church in the world. He comes to our country at a historic moment, having been awarded the distinguished Templeton Prize, joining the ranks of past recipients such as Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. For decades, Patriarch Bartholomew has been a bridge builder between faiths and a global voice for environmental stewardship and human dignity. His visit is a moment of pride for Greek Orthodox Christians across America, including many of my constituents in New York's 17th District. On behalf of this Congress, I extend a warm welcome and safe return home to His All-Holiness and offer gratitude for his life of service and his witness to faith, peace, and reconciliation.”