Moscow Patriarchate hopes Putin's Vatican visit will make Orthodox-Catholic ties stronger

[rug]

The Moscow Patriarchate expects Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican to give an additional impetus to relations between Orthodox people and Catholics.



Photo: RIA Novosti

22 November 2013, 10:37

"We would like to hope that President Putin's meeting with the Pope will help strengthen relations between Russia and the Vatican, as well as relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church," a spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations said.

It will be a meeting of the leaders of two states, the spokesman said, adding that the two churches have been working directly to tackle many religious issues.

The Russian president and the pontiff are expected to meet during Putin's visit to the Vatican on November 25.

It will be the third visit of the Russian head of state to the Vatican after the establishment of full-scale diplomatic relations in December 2009.

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_11_22/Moscow-Patriarchate-hopes-Putins-Vatican-visit-will-make-Orthodox-Catholic-ties-stronger-3560/

[IrishAyes]

1. It would be wonderful to see closer relations with Eastern Orthodoxy as well.