14 February 2016. The Mountain Laboured Forth and Gave Birth to… a Mouse

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My comment on FB on the late meeting of Kirill and Francisco:

In any case, nothing of substance occurred. Kirill didn’t even let Francisco join him for any public events in Havana. In short, GIGO on a massive scale. Note well that the CHOSEN venue was well away from any American interference or monitoring. What did they say in pectore?… perspirin’ minds wanna know…

Both Francisco and Kirill wanted to make a point to the EU and the USA… both by their declaration and by their choice of venue. Otherwise, it wasn’t anything to comment upon, as nothing beyond a PR stunt occurred. However, the wording is more “Russian” than “curial”… something to think upon…

Note this well… there was no meeting of the two men before the public, even though Cuba’s a Catholic country. Now, that’s unusual… but no one seemed to comment on it. They didn’t even “break bread” together. Things DO get “curiouser and curiouser”, don’t they? HH is still in Cuba… he’s going the rounds. Again, note well that he didn’t allow Francisco to share in ANY of it. It does give one the clear impression who was the “top dog” in this, doesn’t it?

BMD

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Kremlin Welcomes Historic Meeting Between Pope Francisco and Patriarch Kirill

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The leaders of the two churches are due to meet for the first time next Friday in Cuba. On Monday, Kremlin spokesman D S Peskov told reporters:

Russia welcomes the historic meeting between Pope Francisco and Patriarch Kirill. You know, it’s a mutual step forward and, of course, like everyone else, we expect that this meeting will be successful, and we very much appreciate the willingness of the two religious leaders to hold such a meeting.

Most expect Pope Francisco and Patriarch Kirill to discuss the persecution of Christians, amongst other matters, and sign a joint declaration.

8 February 2016

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160208/1034393329/kremlin-pope-patriarch-meeting.html

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On Sunday, Pope Francisco Bergoglio called on Christians gathered in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City to pray for his historic meeting with Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The leaders of the two churches are due to meet for the first time next Friday in Cuba. He said:

I ask you to support with a prayer my trip to Mexico, which begins in a few days, and my meeting in Havana with dear brother Kirill.

7 February 2016

http://sputniknews.com/art_living/20160207/1034367633/pope-meeting-patriarch.html

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On 12 February, Pope Francisco Bergoglio will meet with Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Cuba, in what will be the first face-to-face engagement between the heads of the two churches. Pope Francisco and Patriarch Kirill will meet at the Havana airport; reportedly, the persecution of Christians in the Middle East is the primary issue on the agenda of the meeting. On Saturday, Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, chairman of the MP Synodal Department for External Church Relations (OVTsS), said on the TV show Vesti v Subbotu (Vesti on Saturday) that a joint declaration following the meeting might contain a call for “people of good will“ to form a coalition to end terrorism:

There’s constant talk of creating various coalitions. They say, “Let’s create a coalition to fight terrorism; let’s create another coalition”. Coalitions are being created here and there, but to overcome this evil, there needs to be a coalition of all people of good will. Political games have to give way to reality; we must give up political interests when people face real suffering and death. We follow the same gospel, the same Christ and the same commandments. Despite differences in theology, we’re united in the essence of Christian faith, and we mustn’t forget this. We need to find common solutions to global problems.

6 February 2016

http://sputniknews.com/world/20160206/1034334427/pope-russian-patriarch-new-anti-terrorism-coalition.html

Sputnik International

VRNS Statement on the Upcoming Meeting of Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francisco

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The media office of the Worldwide Russian People’s Council (VRNS) issued a statement:

The VRNS applauds the news of the upcoming meeting of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all the Russias and Pope Francisco, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. At such a difficult moment in history, such a meeting is a timely and vital. We remain convinced that Orthodox and Catholics should unite their efforts to resist de-Christianisation, the destruction of the traditional family and morality, anti-religious vandalism, and sacrilege, despite continuing theological differences between Eastern and Western Christians. Of particular importance is for us to jointly oppose the Christian genocide unfolding in the Middle East, which equally affects Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, and Oriental Orthodox, who’ve lived for thousands of years in Arab countries. The severe persecution they face recalls the fate of the early Christian martyrs, beaten down by pagan tyrants. Orthodox and Catholics should unite their efforts and appeal to major world leaders to demand an end to the genocide against Middle Eastern Christians. We also hope that the meeting of Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francisco will positively influence the Ukrainian situation, where the canonical Church now experiences harsh times.

7 February 2016

Patriarchia.ru

MP official website

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/4370649.html

V R Legoida: “Meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with Pope Francisco isn’t Connected with the all-Orthodox Sobor”

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V R Legoida, head of the MP Synodal Department of Relations with Society and the Media (OVTsOS), said on a broadcast of Светлый вечер (Svetly vecher: Bright Evening) on Radio Vera (Radio Faith):

The meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with Pope Francisco, due for 12 February in Cuba, isn’t connected with the upcoming all-Orthodox Sobor. The decision to hold the all-Orthodox Sobor in Crete on 19 June came during the late January meeting of First Hierarchs of the Local Churches and their representatives in Chambésy [in Switzerland]. This was a joint decision of the parties to the Sobor; some took it out of context with a schedule of meetings involving only First Hierarchs. The necessity for a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis has its roots in a singular tragedy… the situation stemming from the genocide of Christians in the Middle East and in North and Central Africa.

5 February 2016

Patriarchia.ru

MP official website

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/4370418.html