Leader of the Orthodox Christian Church meets with Congressional leaders

November 5, 2009

Nevada Senator Reid greets His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a lunch with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew along with other congressional leaders. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the leader of over 300 million Orthodox Christians. He has been a leader on environmental issue and has joined Senator Reid in calling for action on climate change. The “Green Patriarch” is no stranger to Congress; he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1997.

“I want to thank His All Holiness for joining us today. I especially want to thank him for his leadership among faiths to work towards solutions on climate change,” said Sen. Reid. “While he has fought for religious freedom, human rights, and tolerance around the world, he has faced unfair treatment at home in Turkey, which we all believe must change.”