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Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday afternoon, June 4. The forty-minute discussion focused heavily on protecting Christian communities across the Middle East and safeguarding freedom of worship in the Holy Land.

The meeting comes at a time of severe regional instability, as Christian populations in Lebanon, Syria, and the Holy Land face mounting pressures and security challenges. During the talks, Patriarch Theophilos expressed deep concern over the vulnerability of these communities, emphasizing that their protection is vital not only for religious reasons but as a cornerstone for regional stability, coexistence, and peace.

“In recent years, Christian communities in the Middle East have faced a harsh reality of instability, growing threats, and rising pressures,” the Patriarch of Jerusalem stated in an official release. “We see ancient communities asking for something fundamentally basic: to continue living in safety, to preserve their faith, and to protect their freedom of worship.”

Safeguarding religious freedom

Addressing President Trump, His Beatitude noted that “safeguarding religious freedom and maintaining open access to the Holy Land is more than a spiritual matter; it is a prerequisite for stability, coexistence, and peace throughout the entire region.”

During the encounter, Patriarch Theophilos honored Donald Trump with the “Grand Cross” of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the highest distinctions bestowed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

According to the Patriarchate, the meeting builds upon the established relationship between the Patriarch and the Trump family, serving as a continuation of the US President’s landmark 2017 visit to Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

As one of the world’s oldest Christian institutions, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem holds a historic role in guarding holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Patriarch Theophilos III, who has held the patriarchal throne since 2005, has frequently been involved in global religious events, including the consecration of the holy oil used in the coronation of King Charles III.

Related: Millions of Christians Face Persecution, Violence Worldwide: Holy See

US President Donald Trump said the United States will win the conflict with Iran either “militarily or on paper,” referring to the fitful negotiations with Tehran, and he suggested he could meet with Iran’s reclusive supreme leader “if it was to make a deal.”