mr. speaker, this week the world laid to rest in the egyptian desert a holy and wise spiritual giant, the 117th hope of alexandria and patriarch of all africa of the cop particular orthodox church. he passed on march 17. his holiness presided more than 40 years over a worldwide expansion of the coptic orthodox church and during his papacy he appointed the first ever bishops to preside over nonamerican diocese. when his holiness became hope in 1971, there were only four churches in north america. today there are over 100. . not just with catholic groups, the -- meeting the roman catholic pope of roam for the first time in over 1,500 years in the year of 19 3, but he joined with protestant choices along with islamic leaders and muslim clerics. he was a man for the world. i had the honor of meeting the pope at our local christian church when it was being constructed. he was a man of immense faith, unforgettable. i never will forget his steady, strong, peaceful countenance when i asked him what it would take to achieve unity among the faith confessions and he said it would take love. his contributions to -- yet unmet will flower i