Head of DECR MP: Meeting of the Pope and the Patriarch is not being prepared

A new meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill is currently not officially prepared. This was stated by the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who was on a visit to Buenos Aires on February 7-8, 2023, Pravlife writes.

“Not conducted,” said the head of the DECR, answering a media question about the preparation of a possible meeting. At the same time, he assured that the Russian Orthodox Church «has always been open» to such contacts.

“We believe that a meeting of two religious leaders who represent the majority of Christians around the world would be important and useful, we have always shown readiness for this meeting,” Metropolitan Anthony emphasized.

As the hierarch noted, «no new statements» on this matter have been received through the official channels of the Vatican, «despite the fact that there are a lot of different rumors and statements in the press.»

Metropolitan Anthony recalled that the meeting of Patriarch Kirill with Pope Francis was planned for the past year, and the Russian Church was preparing for it.

“But in the spring of last year, the Vatican announced the cancellation of this meeting, which was surprising for us. Then we heard comments from the Holy See that a new meeting could be held in Kazakhstan during the World Congress of Religious Leaders, but this meeting did not take place there either,” said the head of the DECR of the Moscow Patriarchate.

With the blessing of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk paid a visit to the Argentine capital on February 7-8, 2023, where he led the work of a round table dedicated to the cooperation of the Russian Orthodox Church and compatriots living in Latin America.