In an event of great ecumenical significance, Metropolitan Antonij, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Relations, met in the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV. This is the first official meeting between the pontiff and a high representative of the Russian Orthodox Church since the beginning of his pontificate.
Antonij, envoy of Patriarch Kirill, discussed with the Pope various issues of common interest, highlighting the dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics, as well as the shared challenges in conflict contexts such as the Middle East and, in particular, Ukraine.
According to a statement released by the Moscow Patriarchate, the metropolitan expressed to the Pope his Church's concern over what he described as a "persecution" against the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church on Ukrainian territory.
Despite being the first meeting with Leo XIV, Antonij is no stranger to the Vatican sphere. In recent years, he has been one of the most visible interlocutors between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Holy See, especially in times marked by political and religious tensions.
This meeting reinforces the efforts of both Churches to maintain open channels of dialogue in the midst of an increasingly complex international context.
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