Yurash: We’re trying to prevent meeting between Pope and Patriarch Kirill
Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican Andriy Yurash admitted that a meeting between the pontiff and Patriarch Kirill in Kazakhstan is undesirable for Ukraine. "There is a big discussion now about why we are trying to prevent the Pope and Patriarch Kirill from meeting in Kazakhstan in September 2022," the official said to Channel 24, adding that "they were ready to meet this year in Lebanon, on neutral territory."
According to Yurash, for Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, contact with the Pope is only a tool for them to use the Holy See for their foreign policy and PR purposes. At the same time, according to Yurash, the Russian Federation is afraid to invite the Pope to Russia and, in order to avoid this, "since the early 1990s they have been coming up with many reasons".
"The visit of the Pope directly to Russia is for them an extremely critical situation in terms of the position of the Russian Church," emphasised Yurash.
The diplomat explained that the ROC "as an instrument of politics and influence of the Russian state on all external moments related to the representation of the state can create a certain discomfort, so they do not allow an equal relationship."
As reported, the Pope spoke of a cordial and open dialogue with Russia.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.