Pope Leo met with Metropolitan Anthony from the Russian Orthodox Church to discuss the war in Ukraine and Orthodox-Catholic dialogue amidst ongoing global conflicts.
Pope Leo held a meeting with Metropolitan Anthony on Saturday, a prominent official within the Russian Orthodox Church, at the Vatican. This gathering marked a potential diplomatic move to mend the strained relations between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, exacerbated by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
The Vatican reported that Pope Leo engaged with Anthony, who is the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations, along with five other high-ranking clerics during this morning audience.
In a statement from the Russian Orthodox Church, it was noted that the discussion covered various topics related to the state of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue. The conversation also addressed international conflicts, with particular focus on the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Since his papacy began in May, Pope Leo has frequently called for peace in international disputes. This month, he expressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy the Vatican’s willingness to serve as a host for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Despite this offer, Russian officials have expressed skepticism about the Vatican’s suitability as a negotiation venue, citing its geographical position within NATO-aligned Italy, which has supported Ukraine.
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has been a vocal supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During the meeting, Kirill’s congratulations were delivered to Pope Leo regarding his election. In response, the Vatican affirmed that Pope Leo expressed his appreciation for the greetings from Patriarch Kirill and emphasized the significance of advancing relations with the Russian Orthodox Church.
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