The presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the United States found a warm response to the US Congress, as more than twenty MPs filed statements to official minutes, highlighting the importance of his spiritual leadership and his dedication to human rights.

The Democratic Member had the initiative for this move Dan Goldman From New York, which is a state that is a reference point for the Greek -American diaspora. As he pointed out, the Patriarch’s visit is not only about Orthodox Christians but also those who seek moral guidance in a period of international uncertainty.

In his comments, Goldman also reminded the award of Patriarch Bartholomew with Templeton Prizea prize awarded to world radiation personalities such as Mother Teresa and the Lama. He emphasized that the Patriarch has emerged as a symbol of interfaith dialogue, human dignity and peace, especially in relation to the crisis in Ukraine.

The Republican Member also gave a similar emphasis Gus Bilirakiswho talked about a “Legacy of Faith, Peace and Strength” reflected in the face of the Patriarch. He recalled that the Christian communities in Turkey have shrunk dramatically and called on Congress to intensify pressure on Ankara to recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the reopening of the Halki Theological School.

For her part, the Democratic MP Dina Tait He highlighted the ecological vision of Patriarch Bartholomew, who gave him the designation “Green Patriarch” in the US. Since the beginning of the 1990s, he said, the predecessor of Orthodoxy had emphasized that the destruction of nature is a sin, proclaiming that the world is a divine gift and not the property for exploitation.