US President Donald Trump was awarded the honorary decoration of the Great Bearer of the Cross of the Order of Cross-Bearers of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the highest honors of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, on Thursday.

During the meeting, Patriarch Theophilos III and Trump discussed the need for the protection of Christians in the Middle East, the right to freedom of worship, and the need to safeguard holy sites across the region, a representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.  

“The meeting is significant because it places the Patriarch of Jerusalem’s role in a wider international context. The honor being conferred on President Trump is connected to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but the broader issue is the Patriarchate’s role in protecting Christian communities, safeguarding holy places and keeping channels of dialogue open at a time of regional and international uncertainty,” a representative from the patriarch’s office shared.

It is understood that the meeting coincides with a broader effort to see religious leaders encourage dialogue, especially where political channels may be limited.

The Patriarch will also be making an official visit to Greece and an expected visit to Russia in the coming week as part of this broader effort to support Christian communities.

“The Patriarch should be understood as a peace-seeker, not a political actor,” the representative explained.