Biden: Late Archbishop 'a man of courage and conviction'

US President Joe Biden has described the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II as a "man of remarkable conviction and courage who led Cyprus’ Greek Orthodox Christian Church with grace during a pivotal period."

In a statement, the US President said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of Archbishop Chrysostomos II.”

He described the late Cyprus church leader as “a dedicated leader who never shied away from speaking up for the most vulnerable communities in Cyprus. He was also steadfast in his commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Cyprus.”

Biden said in 2014, he had “the honor of meeting with the Archbishop in Nicosia. I was touched by his compassion—he was a leader dedicated to interfaith dialogue and committed to unity among all religious communities in Cyprus.”

In conclusion, he said both he and his wife Jill “offer our deepest condolences to Cyprus’ Greek Orthodox Christian Church, the Republic of Cyprus, and all those who followed or were positively impacted by the Archbishop’s spiritual guidance.”