President of Belarus suggests Pope meet Russian Patriarch on Ukraine

May 24, 2016

During a meeting with Pope Francis, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus suggested that the Pontiff should meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Lukashenko offered to host the proposed summit meeting in Belarus. Referring to the historic meeting between the Pope and the Russian prelate in Havana, he said: "I am sure that more than one million people would like to see their handshake, not far away in Cuba, in an airport, but in the center of Europe." 

The Belarusian leader said that during his May 21 meeting with the Pope, he had said that "new initiatives, even spiritual" are required to end the crisis in Ukraine.

 

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Further information:

• Lukashenko: Pope Francis and Kirill should meet in Minsk for peace in Ukraine (AsiaNews)