Expectations are high for summit between Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin

[hrmjustin]

Eric J. Lyman

ROME (RNS) Next week’s summit between Pope Francis and Russian President Vladmir Putin may be the most important meeting between a pontiff and a visiting head of state in nearly a quarter of a century, with war-torn Syria expected to be the top priority.

Francis has met with more than a dozen heads of state or government as pontiff, and Putin has met with both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II. But this meeting stands out.

It’s been just four years since full diplomatic ties were re-established between Russia and the Holy See, set against a backdrop of centuries of tension between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Now, because of the period of reform Francis has ushered in at the Vatican, and a list of priorities that range from Syria to a desire to strengthen ties between the world’s largest country and one of the smallest, the Nov. 25 closed-door encounter will take on a dramatically increased importance.

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/11/20/expectations-high-summit-pope-francis-vladimir-putin/

[Act_of_Reparation]

1. I'm sure that will be productive

[cbayer]

2. Should be interesting. Would love to be a fly on the wall.

“Any way you look at it, curbing the violence is Syria will be the main priority,” Pavoncello said. “Let’s just say they won’t spend much of their time together speaking about the essence of the Holy Trinity.”

[pinto]

3. Would make sense for Francis and Putin to focus on Syria.

Most Christians, increasingly at risk in Syria, are Orthodox. I would guess that Francis feels Putin has an inherent interest in decreasing the violence given the ties of the Orthodox church. Russia is overwhelmingly Orthodox. Francis may be looking to reinforce that point.

[Act_of_Reparation]

4. I don't see what he hopes to gain if that's the case.

The politics of the situation is pretty straight forward:

Violence against Syria's Christians is largely the doing of anti-Baathist opposition factions. Russia is not allied with them, but with the Baathist regime. In order to broker some kind of peace, Russia would have to pressure al-Assad into somehow appeasing many unrelated, ideologically diverse actors... most of which who will accept nothing less than al-Assad's abdication.

Now, does Russia want al-Assad out of office? No.

Could Russia convince al-Assad to abdicate even if they wanted him to? Maybe, but the opposition factions would have to make significant gains before he'd even consider it. That means, ipso facto, more dead Christians.

Even if Russia were to manage the above, would removing al-Assad put an end to anti-Christian violence? Not by a long shot. With al-Assad gone, the opposition will contend among themselves to establish a new government. Christians will get caught in the middle of this, and many more will die.

If the Pope wants to do some good in Syria, he should be talking to the Syrians, or at the very least allies of some of the Syrian opposition factions (like, for instance, Barack Obama). Russia is no way connected to the killing of Syrian Christians except in a loose, roundabout kind of way, and they have no influence over those directly responsible.

So, the Pope is either in dire need of a crash course in remedial foreign affairs, or he's going to Russia for something else, and I daresay it is not for the pirozhki. Did somebody say photo op?

[pinto]

5. Good points. My take is that the Pope may be looking to encourage Putin's connection with Baathists

and the Orthodox church towards a political solution of some sort. A long stretch at this point.

I doubt a photo op is the point, though.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. If I had to guess...

...I'd say Francis is going there to facilitate dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church. Relations between the Pontiff and the Patriarch have never been especially good, and the Russian church has for years resisted sitting down with the RCC. As Putin enjoys the confidence of the sitting Patriarch, it is possible Francis is using him to pass messages along or to act as an intermediary in setting up a meet.

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. Looks like I was right...

Pope Francis Welcomes Vladimir Putin To Vatican Amidst Catholic-Orthodox Tensions; Leaders Kiss Madonna Icon[/link