His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, received the presentation visit of His Excellency Hans Klemm, United States Ambassador to Romania, at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, on Wednesday, 18 November 2015.
The US Ambassador underlined the fact that it is for the first time in his entire career when he carries out his diplomatic mission in an Orthodox country and expressed his interest in order to better get acquainted with the history, the role and the contribution of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Romanian society. HE Ambassador Hans Klemm emphasized three priorities during his office as US Ambassador to Romania: Romania’s security and defense strategies; promoting democracy, including religious freedom; and promoting prosperity by commercial exchanges and investments.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulated the new US Ambassador on the beginning of his diplomatic mission to Romania and appreciated the good relations between the two states, Romania and the US. The Romanian Patriarch thanked the high guest for the hospitality manifested by the American people towards the Romanians who have settled on the American continent over the course of time, and also underlined that for us democracy is based first on the evangelical values of human dignity, social justice and community solidarity both at national and international level.
In this context, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel mentioned that intensifying the connection between spiritual life and social, charity and educational ministry represents a priority of Church mission nowadays. In this regard, the Romanian Patriarch noted that one of the serious problems that currently affect numerous Romanian families is the phenomena of migration. That is why, among the over 800 social institutions and programs directed by the Romanian Orthodox Church, the program Choose School! stands out, being carried out at a national level and aiming at preventing and reducing school dropout.
The importance of a better mutual knowledge of the Romanian students and professors of Orthodox Theology by scholarships and working visits to America has also been accentuated during the meeting.
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