Topic of the day

Patriarch Kirill wishes happy birthday to Pope Francis

Moscow, December 17, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has extended birthday greetings to Pope Francis, who turns 85 on Friday.

In his message, which has been published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church, the patriarch noted the pope's Christian virtue such as humbleness, adding that the pope always calls on fellow men and women to live by the Commandments, as well as for deeds motivated by love and mercy.

"As the heads of the world's two largest Christian Churches, we bear special responsibility for the fate of humankind," Patriarch Kirill wrote to Pope Francis.

According to the patriarch, this responsibility is of a global dimension, which was confirmed by the two leaders' meeting in Havana in February 2016 and the joint statement adopted at that meeting.

"I am pleased to note that, while preserving loyalty to our common traditions, our churches have at the same time achieved a high level of interaction, thanks to which we can take joint steps to celebrate the name of God across the globe, to consolidate the lifelong moral ideals in society, to develop inter-faith dialogue, and to come up with worthy responses to modern-day challenges," he said.

Print this page

Home

• Putin notes Pope Francis' input in relations between Russian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church in birthday greetings 17 December 2021, 13:02
• Patriarch Kirill wishes happy birthday to Pope Francis 17 December 2021, 11:03
• Russian Orthodox Church says Patriarch Kirill of Moscow might meet with Pope Francis, no date, venue planned so far (updated) 06 December 2021, 17:54
• Russian PM satisfied with Pope's attitude to Moscow's views on int'l issues 09 November 2021, 21:55
• Lavrov, Vatican official to hold talks in Moscow on Nov 9 28 October 2021, 16:43
• Patriarch Kirill's meeting with Pope not under preparation yet - Metropolitan Hilarion 18 October 2021, 10:19
• Russian Deputy FM discusses in Vatican situation in Middle East, Ukraine, inter-church dialogue 03 June 2021, 10:00
• Kremlin hasn't received official proposal from Zelensky to meet with Putin at Vatican 28 April 2021, 13:25
• Zelensky calls Vatican optimal venue for meeting with Putin 28 April 2021, 12:15
• Meeting between Russian patriarch, Pope doesn't improve Christians' position in Middle East contrary to expectations - Metropolitan Hilarion 24 February 2021, 10:00
• Ancient church in Spain's Granada transferred to Russian Orthodox community for use 27 January 2021, 16:01
• Catholics conveyed a church in the center of Spanish Granada to Moscow Patriarchate 15 October 2020, 18:29
• Archbishop Giovanni d'Aniello appointed Vatican's new ambassador to Russia 01 June 2020, 14:05
• Putin meets in Brasilia with church rector who converted from Catholicism to Orthodoxy 15 November 2019, 11:10
• Vatican embassy describes reports on pontiff's visit to Russia on May 9, 2020, as rumors 01 August 2019, 16:21
• Pope Francis of Rome congratulates Russian opera singer Svetlana Kasyan on her birthday 24 July 2019, 16:29
• Putin speaks of pope's favorite writers, Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy 05 July 2019, 13:20
• Pope hails Russia's efforts to protect Christian holy places in Syria – Peskov 05 July 2019, 13:09
• Putin, Pope Francis did not discuss latter's visit to Russia – Peskov 05 July 2019, 13:07
• Putin talked with Pope Francis about protection of Christians in Syria 05 July 2019, 12:14
• Russian Orthodox Church hails contacts between Putin, Vatican 04 July 2019, 17:54
• Putin - Pope Francis meeting lasted exactly one hour (updated) 04 July 2019, 17:06
• Inviting Pope to Russia not to be raised during Putin's visit to Vatican - Ushakov 03 July 2019, 18:22
• Putin in Vatican to discuss restoration of Christian shrines in Syria, Roman Church's humanitarian projects in Donbas, Venezuela 03 July 2019, 18:20
• Peskov unaware whether Putin plans to invite Pope to Russia 01 July 2019, 14:39

Other news