Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences on the death of Pope Francis

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences over the death of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church called Pope Francis’ activities toward the Russian Church aimed at healing “the wounds inflicted in conflicts of the distant and recent past.” The condolences were published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church’s DECR.

“The late Pontiff led the Roman Catholic Church at a time of epochal change. An important stage in the relationship between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches is associated with his name. The first-ever meeting of their Primates in 2016 marked the desire of our Churches to heal “the wounds inflicted in conflicts of the distant and recent past” and to “join forces to witness to the Gospel of Christ and the common heritage of the Church of the first millennium” (Joint Statement 5, 7). Of particular importance to Christians around the world was His Holiness’ desire to show solidarity with the suffering and disadvantaged. By constantly recalling the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the person of every poor and needy person, the Pope drew attention to the sometimes deliberately silenced cases of injustice, violation of human dignity and various forms of persecution. We will remember with gratitude his statements in defense of religious freedom and, in particular, of the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Almighty God may the soul of His servant, who passed away on the second day of the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ by Christians around the world, rest in the villages of the righteous. May He lead him “from death to life” (Jn. 5.24), forgiving all his sins voluntarily and involuntarily, and may He create for him an eternal memory!”, — said in the text of the condolence message.

Earlier, the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, expressed concern about the Roman Catholic Church’s retreat from traditional Christian values. The bishop is convinced that if the Vatican continues to liberalize the issue of attitudes toward LGBT people, the Russian Church will have no more topics for joint interaction with the ROC.