HAVANA, February 13th. / TASS /. The first ever meeting of the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church took place on February 12 at Havana. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis have called the fraternal meeting. The results of the conversation, saying that the two churches can work together to protect the Christians, the patriarch stressed.
ten-page declaration of 30 points was signed after the meeting. It is affected by a variety of topics – the problem of the Union, the conflict in Ukraine, the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, gay marriage, abortion and euthanasia
Fraternal meeting
From the first moment of meeting, both primate demonstrated. very friendly attitude. They embraced and kissed each other three times. “The meeting is held at the right time and in the right place”, – said the Patriarch Pope Francis. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church also noted that “there are no obstacles to the organization of other meetings”
“Finally, we are – brothers.” – Are the first words in Spanish Therefore said the Pope, referring to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. “Obviously, this is – God’s will”, – said Francis.
After standing under the protocol a few minutes of conversation “on camera”, the Patriarch and the Pope, Francis retired to talk in private.
Encouraging results
After the meeting, Patriarch Kirill said that the results of the conversation suggests that the two churches can work together to protect Christians. “We spent two hours in open fraternal discussions with a full understanding of the responsibility for his church for his believing people, for the future of Christianity and the future of human civilization,” – said the Patriarch
In turn, Pope Francis said. they talked with the patriarch together “like brothers because we bishops, we have the same faith and sought the same way.” “We talked very frankly I assure you that in this dialogue, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.” – He said. Primate of the Roman Catholic Church also emphasized that the meeting discussed a number of initiatives that can be executed.
Combine efforts
The main result of the meeting was the signing of the declaration. In it, in particular, it says that the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis mourn the loss of the unity of the churches. “We mourn the loss of unity, which has become a consequence of human weakness and sinfulness, which occurred despite the high priestly prayer of Christ the Saviour:” Let there be all one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us ” – said in the text
“We have divided the wounds caused in conflicts distant and recent past, divided and inherited from our predecessors differences in understanding and explanations of our faith in God, one in three persons -. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit “- also said in the declaration
.” The determination to make all the necessary in order to overcome the historical legacy our differences, we want to combine our efforts for the testimony of the gospel of Christ and the common heritage of the Church of the first millennium jointly responding to the challenges of the modern world “, – stressed in the document
Unia prevents unity
Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis believes that the restoration of the unity of the churches harm union.. “Today it is clear that the method” uniatizma “of past centuries, involving the reduction of one community in unity with the other by her separation from her church, is not the way to restore unity”, – stated in the document
“At the. However, the ecclesial communities which have appeared as a result of historical circumstances, have the right to exist and to take all necessary to meet the spiritual needs of their faithful, striving for peace to their neighbors, “- they said
According to the heads of the two churches. Orthodox and the Greek Catholics in need of reconciliation and finding a mutually acceptable forms of co-existence.
in addition to the Declaration emphasizes that Orthodox and Catholics exclude any form of proselytism. “Orthodox and Catholics are united not only by a common tradition of the Church of the first millennium, but also the mission of preaching the Gospel of Christ in the world today – says the declaration -. This mission involves mutual respect of members of the Christian communities, excludes any form of proselytism”
Ukraine needs peace
The declaration calls on all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to prudence and active peacemaking. “We mourn the confrontation in Ukraine, which killed already many lives, caused the countless suffering civilians plunged society into a deep and economic and humanitarian crisis”, – stated in the document
The first bishops also called for the Church in Ukraine. ” to work for the achievement of the public consent to refrain from engaging in confrontation and not to support the further development of the conflict “.
no less important topics
Primates of the two churches urged the international community to unite to put an end to terrorism and violence in the world, noting that Syria and Iraq, violence has claimed thousands of lives, leaving their homes and means of livelihood for millions of people. Pope and Patriarch believes that “requires a large-scale humanitarian assistance to the suffering people and the many refugees in neighboring countries”.
They also called on the international community to take immediate action to prevent Christians displacement in the Middle East and North Africa.
In a signed patriarch and pope document and a call to respect the inherent right of infant life, and seriously ill people
The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Pope also recalled that the family -. this alliance between living in marriage and loving each other man and woman. “We regret that other forms of cohabitation is now equated with the Union, and blessed the Biblical tradition idea of fatherhood and motherhood as a special vocation of man and woman in marriage are forced out of the public consciousness,” – stated in the declaration
Primates. also noted the need for inter-religious dialogue. “Differences in the understanding of religious truths should not hinder people of different faiths live in peace and harmony”, – stressed they are reminded that now, “the religious leaders have a special responsibility for the upbringing of his flock in the spirit of respect for the beliefs of those who belong to other religious traditions “. “It is absolutely unacceptable attempts to justify the criminal acts of religious slogans,” – emphasized in the declaration
It raised a whole series of equally important topics
The exchange of gifts
.. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill gave Pope Francis of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God, and his book, and in return the gift received relics of saint Cyril, said press secretary Rev. Alexander Volkov patriarch.
“Patriarch book” Freedom and responsibility “, translated into Spanish, received as a gift the Pope this was his native language Pontiff gave the patriarch relics of saint Cyril -.. the heavenly patron of his interlocutor, as well as the cup of communion”, – said Volkov
<. h2> The dialogue will continue
The meeting of Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis saw as a good sign not only in Moscow and the Vatican, but also around the world.
The Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia and the Pope met as people who have long been waiting for this meeting and felt their profound responsibility for the fate of the world and of Christianity, said the Secretary for Inter-Christian relations of the Department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov). He noted that the signed declaration, “of course, a historical document.” Its main theme, he said, “is a joint action of the two heads of churches in the protection of our suffering brothers in the Middle East.” In addition, “in the document it sounded very important point – the call from the two leading Christian leaders to ensure that the humanity to prevent World War II, as the crises that occur in different regions of the world, acquiring a global character”
The Roman. -katolicheskaya and the Russian Orthodox church begin a general path, said after the meeting, the Pope and the Patriarch of the head of the Holy See press service of Father Federico Lombardi. “Between Francis and Cyril had a very cordial conversation, which began with hugs and words of the Pope,” Finally, my brother, “We think that the moment has come when the church begin a general path, while retaining an understanding that it’s not easy, but it is infinitely precious.” – He said the head of the papal press service.
According to the honorary Archbishop of Prague, Metropolitan of the Czech lands and Slovakia Christopher, held in Cuba Patriarch meeting and the Pope “has strengthened the Christian world, opening a new and extremely important page in world history.”
“The Patriarch and the Pope demonstrated the mutual desire of the Orthodox and Catholics to strengthen the unity of the Christian faith, to defend the persecuted fellow Christians in areas of military conflicts, create together for the sake of international peace and the good of all people”, – he said
signed in Cuba by Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis declaration will allow the two churches continue their constructive dialogue and jointly safeguard the modern Christians all over the world, I am sure, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada. “This is a significant event in the sense that now we can constructively talk and engage in dialogue to solve the problems that it will be easier to overcome by working together. When we are apart, we will, of course, less”, – he said.
How did the first-ever meeting of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Pope’s
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