Russian Orthodox patriarch to visit Poland, sign joint statement with Catholic bishops

August 14, 2012

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church will visit Poland on August 16-19 and sign a joint declaration with the nation’s Catholic bishops.

Patriarch Kirill I is traveling to Poland to visit officials of the Polish Orthodox Church – the first such visit in history. While in Poland, he will sign the joint declaration with Archbishop Józef Michalik of Przemysl, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference.

“The purpose of this document is to resolve painful pages of Polish and Russian history," explained Father Jozef Kloch, spokesman for the Polish Episcopal Conference.

“This event must not be treated in political terms but as an indication of a path, a symbol and a sign of obedience to the will of Christ, an important step on the path of forgiveness,” added Archbishop Michalik.

 

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Further information:

• Patriarch Kirill to visit Poland (Interfax)
• A Step Forward Towards Reconciliation Between Catholics and Orthodox Churches (Zenit)
• Ciril I Makes The First Step: Wojciech Dudkiewicz (Sunday Catholic Weekly)
• Could Pope, Russian Patriarch meet in Finland? [exclusive] (CWN, 8/13)