Russian Orthodox Church

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Metropolitan Anthony, chairman for external church relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, greets Pope Francis after his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 3, 2023.

Pope Francis greets Russian Orthodox metropolitan after audience

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The brief encounter in St. Peter’s Square with Metropolitan Anthony took place days after the pope said secret peace talks... Read more

Pope Francis meeting with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and representatives of the Russian-Orthodox Church in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, Sept. 14 2022

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill meeting still possible at future date, Russian Orthodox metropolitan says

Sep 14, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis met Wednesday with the head of the Russian Orthodox delegation in Kazakhstan, who said a papal meeting with... Read more

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

UK government sanctions head of Russian Orthodox Church

Jun 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Foreign Office said that Patriarch Kirill was being ‘sanctioned for his support and endorsement of Putin’s war.’ Read more

Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Dec. 22, 2021

Metropolitan Hilarion moved in Russian Orthodox Church shake-up

Jun 7, 2022

By Luke Coppen

He had served as the Russian Orthodox Church’s chief ecumenical official since 2009. Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, addresses Pope Francis at the Vatican, May 6, 2022.

What’s the future of Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations?

May 9, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis appears to have burned ecumenical bridges with Moscow. Vatican Cardinal Kurt Koch is seeking to rebuild them. Read more

Pope Francis takes part in a video call with Patriarch Kirill on March 16, 2022.

Russian Orthodox Church: Pope Francis’ comments about talks with Patriarch Kirill ‘regrettable’

May 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Moscow Patriarchate said the pope’s words were ‘unlikely to contribute to the establishment of a constructive dialogue.’ Read more

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Report: EU commission proposes sanctions against Patriarch Kirill

May 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

A document described the Russian Orthodox leader as ‘one of the main supporters of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.’ Read more

Pope Francis and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pope Francis says he wants to meet Putin in Moscow to discuss Ukraine war

May 3, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

‘We have not yet had a response,’ the pope said. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill: Who could host their 2nd summit?

Apr 27, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

A meeting is off for now, but where could the two men eventually meet? Read more

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (L)

Pope Francis to Patriarch Kirill: Let’s be ‘true peacemakers’ for war-torn Ukraine

Apr 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope sent Easter greetings to the Russian Orthodox leader. Read more

Holy Trinity Cathedral, a cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.

Catholic leader: Pray for peace in Ukraine before Russian Orthodox cathedrals worldwide

Mar 23, 2022

By CNA Staff

Major Archbishop Shevchuk praised an interfaith gathering outside a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Jerusalem. Read more

Pope Francis takes part in a video call with Patriarch Kirill on March 16, 2022.

Pope Francis discusses Ukraine war with Russian Orthodox leader

Mar 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

The discussion was reported by the Patriarchate of Moscow. Read more

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, pictured on June 3, 2011.

Catholic theologians are standing up for Ukraine — and so are their Orthodox peers

Mar 15, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The war is exposing stark divisions within Eastern Orthodoxy. Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

EU bishops implore Russian Orthodox patriarch to intervene in Ukraine conflict

Mar 11, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Patriarch Kirill is primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with an estimated 150 million members. Read more

Russian Orthodox leader Metropolitan Hilarion speaks at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 6, 2021.

Ukraine war: Metropolitan Hilarion suspended from post at Swiss university

Mar 10, 2022

By CNA Staff

Metropolitan Hilarion is one of the most prominent figures in the Russian Orthodox Church. Read more

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Irish Catholic bishops call on Patriarch Kirill to support Ukraine ceasefire

Mar 9, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘This invasion and aggression reminds us of the fragility of peace, even in Europe,’ the bishops said. Read more

St. Sophia’s Cathedral in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

How the Ukraine conflict is reshaping relations between Churches

Mar 3, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Patriarchate of Moscow appears increasingly isolated. Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

Polish Catholic archbishop to Russian Orthodox leader: Please ask Putin to stop Ukraine war

Mar 2, 2022

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki made the appeal in a strongly worded letter. Read more

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016.

Pope Francis’ second summit with Russian Orthodox patriarch could be held in June-July

Feb 18, 2022

By CNA Staff

Aleksandr Avdeyev said: ‘The place hasn’t been chosen yet.’ Read more

Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Dec. 22, 2021.

Pope Francis meets Metropolitan Hilarion as hopes rise for second summit with Moscow patriarch

Dec 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope held a historic first meeting with Patriarch Kirill in 2016. Read more