In Historic Move, Pope to Meet With Leader of Russian Orthodox Church
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will accomplish a abruptness cruise to Cuba on Feb. 12 for a celebrated affair with the baton of the Russian Orthodox Church, the aboriginal affair amid a pope and the Russian ancestor back the eastern and western branches of Christianity breach about 1,000 years ago, the Vatican appear on Friday.
For Francis, the affair is the aftereffect of aerial and abiding diplomacy, some of which began decades ago beneath Pope John Paul II, and it is addition important anniversary in his efforts to accommodate the Roman Catholic Church with Eastern Orthodox churches.
The advance aswell highlights Francis’s ties to Cuba, as President Raúl Castro “was complex in acclimation the meeting,” said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, at a account conference.
“The appointment has been beneath alertness for a continued time — it wasn’t improvised,” Father Lombardi said.
He said discussions had been underway “for at atomic two years,” and the actuality that both leaders planned to be in Latin America created the achievability of a “neutral place” for a meeting
For Francis, the affair is the aftereffect of aerial and abiding diplomacy, some of which began decades ago beneath Pope John Paul II, and it is addition important anniversary in his efforts to accommodate the Roman Catholic Church with Eastern Orthodox churches.
The advance aswell highlights Francis’s ties to Cuba, as President Raúl Castro “was complex in acclimation the meeting,” said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, at a account conference.
“The appointment has been beneath alertness for a continued time — it wasn’t improvised,” Father Lombardi said.
He said discussions had been underway “for at atomic two years,” and the actuality that both leaders planned to be in Latin America created the achievability of a “neutral place” for a meeting