CNN NEWS:
“ 1 hr 33 min ago
Pope says meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch is off as it "could lead to much confusion"
From CNN's Livia Borghese in Rome “
“ Pope Francis said Thursday that his planned June meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has been cancelled because at this time it "could lead to much confusion.”
Kirill has previously backed Russia's war in Ukraine, alleging last month that gay pride parades were part of the reason for the invasion.
A long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kirill is a major religious figure in Russia, where the Russian Orthodox religion is considered an integral part of the country's identity.
Speaking to the Argentinean newspaper La Nacion, Pope Francis said his relationship with Kirill was "very good."
"I regret that the Vatican has had to suspend a second meeting with Patriarch Kirill, which we had scheduled for June in Jerusalem. But our diplomacy understood that a meeting of the two at this time could lead to much confusion.”
Asked about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Francis answered:
I am willing to do anything to stop the war. Anything."
Asked why he never publicly mentioned Russia or Putin, Francis said "a pope never speaks about a head of state, and even less about a country, who is superior to [its] head of state.
The pope also said the Vatican could play a role in negotiations. "There are always procedures. The Vatican never rests. I cannot tell you the details because they would cease to be diplomatic efforts. But the attempts will never stop," he told the newspaper.
On Friday, the Vatican’s press office director Matteo Bruni said Francis is slowing down his agenda due to medical checks. Due to pain in his right knee, he needed to sit while reading his Easter message and celebrating the Easter vigil mass.“ https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-04-22-22/index.html
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