Moscow: Cardinal Zuppi meets Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill

Group photo at end of the meeting. Vatican Media

Source: Vatican News

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Pope's envoy met with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on Thursday.

Facing each other at a table in the Patriarchate headquarters in the presence of a translator, the common work of the Churches "to serve the cause of peace and justice" and "ease the tensions" of the war in Ukraine was the main focus of their conversation

They discussed the importance of "all the forces of the world uniting to prevent a major armed conflict."

The Patriarch's collaborators and Apostolic Nuncio, Giovanni D'Aniello, were also present.

These words were similar to those shared during the video call between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis on 16 March 2022, less than a month after the first attack in Kyiv, during which the Pontiff reiterated the importance of "uniting" as pastors "in the effort to help peace" and highlighted that the Church does not use "the language of politics, but the language of Jesus".

According to Russian state agencies, Patriarch Kirill greeted the Cardinal, saying he was "happy" with his arrival in Moscow "accompanied by brothers I know well". "We appreciate that His Holiness sent you to Moscow. You are the head of one of the largest metropolises, dioceses in Italy and a famous archbishop, who is carrying out an important service for his people,' the Orthodox Patriarch said.

This meeting was the first between the Orthodox Patriarch and a papal representative since the beginning of the war. Pope Francis met the Patriarch in Cuba in 2016 and signed a joint declaration.

On the sidelines of an event in Rome some months ago Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, said: "We are in a difficult moment, we must recognise this. But this does not mean that we are at ground zero or that there is a frost between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. Channels exist and attempts at dialogue exist".

Also present at the meeting with Cardinal Zuppi was Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Antonij of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On 3 May, Metropolitan Antonij attended the General Audience in St Peter's Square and greeted the Pope, with whom he had a brief conversation. The day before, he had met with Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches to discuss "a wide range of issues of mutual interest". The Metropolitan returned to Italy in mid-June, where he met with Andrea Riccardi, the founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio.

After the meeting at the Patriarchate of Moscow and an encounter with Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children's Rights, Cardinal Zuppi went to the Salesian Cathedral of the Mother of God where he concelebrated Mass. Afterwards he met some of Moscow's Catholic community, and brought them "the Holy Father's greetings, closeness and prayers".

The Cardinal will return to Rome on Friday afternoon, 30 June.