Fr Kirill Gorbunov on meeting between Pope and Patriarch

Listen to the interview with Father Kirill Gorbunov, Spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow:  

Father Gorbunov says besides being an historic first, the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill is hugely significant because around two thirds of the world’s Orthodox Christians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. Although there has never been a meeting before between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Gorbunov said over the years there have been regular lower-level contacts between the two Churches that he described as “very rich and fruitful.”  He noted that before becoming Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill had met with two Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

“Take relations to a new level”

Father Gorbunov said he believed this historic meeting will help take relations “to a new level” between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church and from now on both sides will have “more freedom and more courage” to seek better relations and work together more.

“A common witness”

The Russian Orthodox Church said the central item on the agenda during the meeting in Cuba between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. Father Gorbunov said the planned meeting showed that both Churches are putting aside their long-standing differences and disagreements in order to provide a united front and “a common witness” to respond to the suffering and persecution of Christians in today’s world.   

“What is most important is saving peoples’ lives and (helping) Churches that are struggling to survive and this is really a very important thing to discuss," said Father Gorbunov.  

Powered by WPeMatico