Cordial message of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow for the new Pope. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church invokes “signs of hope”
Patriarch Kirill of Russia, photo: Sergei Karpukhin / Tass / Profimedia
Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, sent a congratulatory message to Pope Leon, whose predecessor, Francis, criticized Kirill for the support shown to the Russian war against Ukraine, reports Reuters.
“You start your pontificate as a primate of the Roman Catholic Church at a special historical moment, associated with a number of civilizational changes, as well as with safe signs of hope,” Kirill wrote to Leon XIV, chosen by the cardinal conclave as the first Pope in the United States.
“In this context, the relationship between East and Western Christian is of special importance for the fate of the world,” the Russian Patriarch continued.
Kirill did not specify what he understands by “signs of hope”, although he could refer to the efforts led by the United States to end the Ukraine war.
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The Russian Orthodox Church was a powerful ally of President Vladimir Putin, giving his blessing for the war and supporting the president's campaign to encourage what he calls the traditional values of Russian society, in contrast to the perceived decadence of the West.
In 2022, the Russian church quarreled with Pope Francis for the use of an inappropriate tone after asking Patriarch Kirill not to become the “paracliser” of the Kremlin, saying that this type of considerations could affect the dialogue between the two churches.
In the message to Leon XIV, Kirill leaves room, however, for the possibility of inter -denominational bridges.
“I honestly hope that, together with you, the relationships between our churches will gradually develop for a public confession of Christ and the manifestation of humanity of the sustainable beauty of God's commandments,” Kirill's message said.
