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Orthodox Hierarchs Attend the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 2025 Fall General Assembly | Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America

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Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Baltimore – For the fifth consecutive year, a delegation of hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (AoB) participated as observers in the Fall General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), held in Baltimore, Maryland, at the invitation of His Excellency Bishop Joseph Bambera, chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.

Representing the Assembly were His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, Chair of the AoB Ecumenical Committee; His Eminence Archbishop Maxim; and His Grace Bishop John. Also joining the Orthodox delegation were Rev. Nicolas Kazarian, Rev. Philip Halikias, and Damian Paschalides.

During the afternoon session, the Orthodox hierarchs received a warm welcome from the more than 200 Roman Catholic bishops gathered for the Assembly. Later, the Orthodox delegation joined members of the USCCB’s Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for a dinner conversation. Topics included the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, as well as the recent pilgrimage to Rome and Constantinople with His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark. In his remarks, Metropolitan Methodios emphasized the spiritual dimension of dialogue, stating:

“Our dialogue is not an academic exercise. It is a sacred calling—a work of love, born of the Holy Spirit, who alone can heal the wounds of our separation. Let us continue to pray for one another, to listen to one another, and to always bear witness to the one Faith as the one People of God.”

The delegation also noted the anticipated apostolic visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Nicaea and Constantinople, an event expected to further highlight the shared Christian heritage of East and West.

The delegation members also congratulated the newly elected USCCB leadership: His Excellency Archbishop Paul Coakley as President and His Excellency Bishop Daniel Flores as Vice President, both of whom will serve for the next three years.

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