Around the world: Vatican and Russia (ecumenism)
Francis and Kirill, a Holy Alliance for the future of Christians and the world
Vladimir Rozanskij
The meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill has been eagerly desired for quite some time. Expected under John Paul II; hoped for with Benedict XVI, it has taken time to realize. Catholics and Orthodox face the same challenges of persecution and relativism. Orthodox nationalism, backed by Putin, causes some reticence. The Middle East crisis and risk of Russia’s isolation fosters collaboration.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - The long wait is finally over: on February 12th the Third Rome reconciled with the First Rome, to save the Second, the persecuted Churches of the East. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow wanted to take advantage of Pope Francis’ visit to Mexico, to mark in Cuba a historic step that he has no intention of leaving to his eventual successor. Become patriarch of the ... [link]
History
Moscow and Rome: A history of clashes and dialogue
by Ieromonaco Ioann
Rome (AsiaNews) – Below, we publish the opinion of a religious of the Russian Orthodox Church on the forthcoming meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, who also offers our readers a historical overview of relations between Rome and Moscow.
Moscow. The announcement was made: February 5, in a press conference after the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, officially announced the upcoming meeting of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' Kirill with Pope Francis.
As part of his apostolic trip to Mexico (12-18 February), Pope Francis will make a detour to Cuba where he will meet Patriarch Kirill, who will be visiting the Caribbean island at the invitation of Raul Castro, first made at the beginning May. [link]
Moscow. The announcement was made: February 5, in a press conference after the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, officially announced the upcoming meeting of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' Kirill with Pope Francis.
As part of his apostolic trip to Mexico (12-18 February), Pope Francis will make a detour to Cuba where he will meet Patriarch Kirill, who will be visiting the Caribbean island at the invitation of Raul Castro, first made at the beginning May. [link]
