DECR MP head speaks about possible meeting between Pat Kirill and the Pope
Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis, 2016. Photo: RIA Novosti
A new meeting of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus, with Pope Francis will be announced shortly before the event. The Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR MP), Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, said this in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
The hierarch noted that two topics should go separately – the pope's visit to Russia and his meeting with Patriarch Kirill. While the visit of the pontiff is not on the agenda of "our bilateral relations", a new meeting of religious leaders, in his opinion, will take place.
“I think this meeting will take place, but we will only announce it a month or several months before the event. After all, the most important thing is not a meeting itself, but its results. The previous one bore good fruit,” said the head of the DECR MP.
The first meeting of Patriarch Kirill with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, which took place in Havana on February 12, 2016, was announced a week prior to the event. The second will also be announced a week earlier, "when we finalize everything", Metropolitan Hilarion added.
The UOJ wrote that on October 6, 2021, the head of the DECR MP met with Pope Francis in the Vatican.
Read also
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.
Catholic cardinal visits Ukrainian POWs during trip to Russia
During three days of consultations in Moscow, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi discussed prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainians help restore Serbian Orthodox church in Paris
Orthodox Ukrainians have become regular parishioners of St. Sava Church in Paris and have taken part in its restoration.
Bulgarian Church clergy and laity oppose Phanar head’s visit
More than 2,000 clergy and laity have called for the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit to be canceled, citing disagreement with his actions and concerns that the visit could legitimize schism.
Unknown intruders break down doors at two UOC churches in Sloviansk
Archbishop Paisiy said OCU activists are suspected of breaking into the churches in Sloviansk, and police have launched an investigation.
Sviatohirsk Lavra prays for murdered monk on 40th day after death
The brethren of the Sviatohirsk Lavra held a memorial service for murdered Monk Varsonofiy, calling on the faithful to pray for the newly departed monk.