Cardinal suggests new meeting between Pope, Russian patriarch

July 13, 2016

During a recent visit to Belarus, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said that a meeting there between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow could foster peace in Ukraine.

The Vienna cardinal was in Belarus to represent Pope Francis at the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev. Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met for the first time in Havana in February and issued a joint declaration.

“Belarus could play a role as a mediator between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches,” said Cardinal Schönborn, according to a report from the Interfax news agency. “Belarus is not involved in the conflict [in Ukraine]. And such a meeting on the Belarusian soil could help resolve this conflict.”

 

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Further information:

• Patriarch-Pope meeting in Belarus could help solve Ukrainian crisis - Vatican envoy (Interfax)
• Cardinal Schönborn, special envoy at the commemoration of the erection of the diocese of Minsk-Mohilev (Holy See Press Office)