Head of DECR MP meets with Pope Francis

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican, reports RIA Novosti.

What the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church and the pontiff talked about is not reported.

“The conversation was held behind closed doors,” the news agency wrote.

The day before, on August 4, 2022, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk met in the Vatican with the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. The interlocutors discussed issues of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the RCC.

Metropolitan Anthony arrived in Rome on an archpastoral visit on the affairs of the Administration of the ROC parishes in Italy.

As reported, Pope Francis, speaking about the war in Ukraine, urged the confronting sides "to stop and start negotiations".

Read also

Authorities cancelled the transfer of heritage churches to permanent use

The government replaced the permanent transfer of heritage churches to communities with temporary hourly access.

The OCU stated that the Pope is playing into Moscow's hands

An OCU cleric rebuked the Greek Catholics for their silence in the context of the Pope's statements about the necessity of peace.

Iran raises $1.3 million for sacrificial offering to pray for ayatollah's recovery

Iranians outraged by call to fund sacrificial ritual for the health of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Zelensky signs law on the National Pantheon

The National Pantheon of Ukraine will have a non-denominational status.

Ukraine now allows matronymics alongside patronymics

Ukrainian legislation has allowed people to change their patronymic since 2021, including replacing the father's name with the mother's name.

Kharkiv's gay community announces LGBT march

At the pride march in Kharkiv, participants will demand the legalization of same-sex marriages in Ukraine.