In the warring empire of the potentate, Vladimir Putin and the pontiff Patriarch Kirill, a priest who prays for peace is a perjurer. He condemns himself to be treated as an apostate, the religious equivalent of a political traitor. This is the extent to which Russia will go in silencing those within the Orthodox Church Read more
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, met with World Council of Churches acting general secretary Dr Ioan Sauca, in Moscow on 17 October 2022. In addition to a public conversation, Patriarch Kirill and Dr Sauca had their own private audience to discuss Orthodox matters. Patriarch Kirill welcomed the guests, saying: “I Read more
Pope Francis says God must never “be held hostage to the human thirst for power”, and religion must never be used to justify the “evil” of war. An implicit criticism of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who backs the invasion of Ukraine and has boycotted a conference of faith leaders, the Pope made his views plain Read more
Russia’s brutal military attack on Ukraine continues. And with each passing day Pope Francis appears more and more frustrated that he and his Vatican aides can do nothing to stop it. No doubt, they are even more irritated that their continuous offers to mediate or facilitate discussions between the two countries, which the Cardinal Secretary Read more
Archbishop of Wellington Cardinal John Dew says Pope Francis is deeply concerned about the invasion being justified as a holy war. In recent weeks, the Russia’s Patriarch Kirill has used religious language to justify his support for Russia’s military aggression. Even Kirill’s own supporters are looking elsewhere, says Dew. “The invasion has created new ecumenical Read more
“May the Lord preserve the Russian land… A land which now includes Russia and Ukraine and Belarus and other tribes and peoples.” A Sunday sermon with very political overtones. It was delivered on February 27 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The 75-year-old Read more
The prospect of Russian Orthodox-Catholic church unification is unlikely says Russian Orthodox head of foreign relations. This is despite ongoing talks since 2013 between Pope Francis and the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Although the two church leaders agree on many issues, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk says there are some Read more
Russia plays a crucial role in working for world peace, says Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Parolin, who has just returned from a four day trip to Russia, says: “I tried above all to say this, this was the message that I wanted to convey: Russia, for its geographical position, its history, its Read more
Catholic and Russian Orthodox relations will take a further step forward this week. Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill are meeting in Switzerland to resume discussions they began last year in Havana. At last year’s meeting, the Catholic and Orthodox leaders discussed Christian brotherhood and unity. This year they will talk about progress and Read more
Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill have issued a deep and thorough call for reconciliation and unity amongst their two traditions. The two leaders met for 135 minutes in Cuba on February 12. It was the first meeting of this kind for nearly 1000 years. A joint statement was issued, in which Francis and Kirill Read more