delegations from the various christian denominations including astonishingly the patriarch of constantinople, the first of equals among the orthodox churches, this is the first time it seeps in a thousand years since the churches split in 1054 that the leader of orthodox christians is there attending this inauguration mass. >> it really is quite something for that to happen. the patriarch came to this country some years back, he was really quite vociferously anti-catholic in some of his statements and, of course, the break was essentially over the primacy of rome and so to go to rome is really a gesture and they will go to st. peter's tomb together, apparently. and that is something, as you say in america we don't often get to see. it hasn't happened in a thousand years. >> really stunning and something as cokie was saying not since 1054 to be able to do such what we call an ecumenical outreach in the first moments of his papacy sets the tone for his outreach to other christian denominations and other faiths, as well. >> in our american delegation there is new mexico governor susana martinez

>> when constantinople broke from rome, and so since then, it's been not animosity but not exactly an as you would like. so to have him then show up here, uninvited, invited, we're not sure. no formal invitations went out. maybe he just came on his own. but to have him here is symbolic and it's real because it hasn't happened. and for me, already he has ecumenical outreach in his own country, among jews, other states. i think we're going to see a lot more from this pope. we're going to see him reaching out to other rites. other christian denominations, and to jews. >> pope benedict went to constantinople, we don't call it that anymore, but there was a great sign, a great image of the patriarch bartholomew and pope benedict standing to the as the patriarch hosted him. the patriarch was also present at pope john paul's funeral and there have been other occasions when they've been together. sharing in the sign of peace, even though they don't share together in communion. >> ron allen who is in rome right now, to share in the sign of peace on the altar, if the terminology is correct, righ

the treaty of constantinople established full independence to greece. new york city is home to one of the largest hellenic populations outside of greece. a story of queens, which i have the honor of representing, is often called little athens ecause of the large hellanic population. they have a parade on fifth avenue in manhattan which i've been honored to participate year after year. watching side by side with my greek american friends, i have been overwhelmed by the warmth and enthusiasm of which the community has brought to greek -- to new york city. these events remind us of the many contributions to our nation's history and culture. the friendship between america and greece is based on mutual respect, a commitment to common goals and a sharing of fundamental values, especially ensuring stability in southeastern europe. i hope permanent solutions can be found for ending the divisions of cyprus and finding a mutually agreeable name for the former yugoslav republic of macedonia. i know that the greek independence movement was an inspiration to the ame

ecumenical patriot remark bartholomew 1 of constantinople, the spiritual leader of orthodox christians, urges us to remember those most affected by climate change. climate change is much more than an issue of environmental preservation, the patriot remark says. climate change constitutes a matter of social and economic justice. here in the united states, hundreds of evangelical leaders signed the evangelical climate endangered species tiff statement which declares love of god, love of neighbor and the demands of stewardship are more than enough reason for evangelical christians to respond to the climate change problem, with moral passion and concrete action. the hindu declaration on climate change affirms that -- quote -- "the dire problems besetting our world will all be magnified many fold by the predicted impacts of climate change. and buddhist leaders, including the diallo alamb a, urge both individual and unusual transformation to confront what they call the gravest challenge that humanity has ever faced, the ecological consequences of our own collective karma. as reverend fletche