Jerusalem Patriarch Urges Global Leaders to Visit Holy Sepulchre, Citing Trump and Vance

Patriarch Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem told one outlet News that leaders of any faith should emulate Donald Trump and JD Vance by visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He recalled Trump’s 2017 pilgrimage, during which he presented the president with the Grand Bearer of the Cross of the Order of Cross-Bearers of the Holy Sepulchre, and praised Vance’s 2025 stop in Jerusalem. The patriarch described the Holy Sepulchre as the “heartbeat of our faith,” emphasizing its multiple sacred locations and its role as a living pilgrimage site.

He also noted his ongoing dialogue with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the Ukraine conflict and highlighted King Abdullah II’s support for Christian access to holy places. The interview underscored the patriarch’s call for international leaders to advocate for religious freedom and protect persecuted Christians worldwide.