Amidst the increasing risks of a military confrontation between Russia and the West, politicians would better to take into account the experience of religious leaders like Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill. By Russia Direct With a great deal of buzz about a global war, involving Russia and other great powers, the recent Munich Security conference is very symbolic and ill-omened. It seems to create a sort of the catch 22 situation: the more ...
... Liddo:
The President and the Pope: an
Unconventional Allianceс
In spite of the “unprecedented renewal of the Christian faith in Russia, as well as in many other countries of Eastern Europe,” which was noted in the Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, Orthodox Christianity is facing the same challenges.
In Russia
, for example, 72 per cent of the adult population consider themselves Orthodox Christians; however, only 56 per cent believe in God, 32 per cent believe in the afterlife,...
... which the agreement failed. However, the ecumenical dialogue between Orthodox and Catholic Christians continued. A special impetus to the dialogue was given by Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, when he was elected the Bishop of Rome and became Pope Francis. Patriarch Kirill, for his part, also expressed interest in dialogue with the Catholics. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti
recalled
that back in 2012 the Russian Patriarch told him about his intention to attend the 1700th anniversary celebrations ...
