Trump appoints Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

Donald Trump and Mark Walker. Photo: Mark Walker's X page

U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Mark Walker as the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Walker, a former pastor and congressman, previously held a leadership role in the U.S. House of Representatives and worked on the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Intelligence.

In his statement, Trump noted that Walker was “elected unanimously to House Leadership, and did an incredible job as Ranking Member on the House Homeland Security’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee". The president also emphasized that in his new role, Walker would " expose Human Rights Violations, champion Faith, and help us secure Life Saving Results".

In a response, Walker stated that he is "open-eyed to the bad actors and regions committing these atrocities against people of faith".

" I know President Trump is a defender of faith, evidenced by his bold statement on religious liberty at the United Nations, ‘Today, with one clear voice, the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution,'" Walker emphasized.

He promised that, together with VP Vance and other U.S. leaders, he would be "relentless in fighting for those targeted who dare to live out their faith".

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the authorities and religious leaders of Ukraine reassured Trump’s "spiritual advisor" of their commitment to religious freedom.

Read also

Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”

The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.

Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size

The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.

Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.

During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence

Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”

Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople

A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.

OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud

In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.