Once again, the Russian President gets an audience in the Vatican. The preparations for a visit to the Catholic Church’s head in Russia? There are some indications.
The upcoming Meeting is the third meeting of Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin. The Argentina-born Pope was only eight months in office as the Russian President came out in November 2013 on an official visit in the Republic of Italy in the Vatican. The second Time the two met there in June 2015.
Three audiences with the Pope – the President is unusual. Apart from the times of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was already repeated in the Vatican guest, and somehow, as a Protestant it’s own wire to the Catholic Church leader has found. The rule is otherwise: leaders get an audience with the Pope. The President also two. Because if there are – as in the case of Putin and Pope Francis – three, seems to speak for strong interests on both sides.
Issues Syria and Ukraine
But what is the view of the current world situation means? For the first Time in 2013, the languages of the Catholic Pope and the Russian President about a possible peace initiative for Syria. A theme that Pope Francis is very close to my heart – because of the dramatic Plight of the civilian population and the difficult situation of the Christian minority there.
From Syria who fled Christians at a fair in Lebanon (2015): heart of the Pope
In addition, the Russian Orthodoxy plays in the Region, a historically important role. Putin for his part said after the Meeting of 2013, Russia and the Vatican wanted to increase contacts in the field of culture, science, education and health care””.
The second encounter took place just over a year after the start of the Russian annexation of the Crimea, and thus significantly angespannterer location. That Meeting between the Pope and Putin lasted 50 minutes, which for such an audience in the Vatican a whopping length. The conflict in Ukraine was the main topic. The Pope called for “sincere and comprehensive efforts for peace,” said the Vatican in the connection. He and Putin had agreed that a “climate of Dialogue” had to be made – and that “all parties” to the agreements of Minsk would have to keep.
In addition, Francis called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors in order to facilitate delivery of aid in the conflict region. Remarkably, on the verge: Pope Francis welcomed the guest from Moscow with a word in the German language: “Welcome”.
Shortly before the border of Russia, Francis was
Now the third encounter. From ecclesiastical circles, it is said, of course it will go with the theme of the Christian presence in the Middle East and the situation in the Ukraine. But another aspect is more exciting: For a Long time, there are speculations that a visit to Moscow by Pope Francis. No Catholic Church leader came so far in the rule of the Russian Orthodoxy. And at least since John Paul II is a preferred location for a Pope trip.
Interlocutor Putin and Pope Francis (2015): Strong interests on both sides
The Catholic Archbishop in Moscow, the Italian Paolo Pezzi, commented these days on Radio Vatican on the question of such a Visit. A return visit by a Pope to travel to Russia, don’t be, “excluded”, but also “not necessary”. In any case, the re-encounter of steering the views of the Catholic minority in the orthodox-dominated country.
Other signals from the Orthodoxy
However, four weeks ago, right after known to re-Rom of Putin’s trip, came from the Russian Orthodox Church and other signals. A trip to Russia of the head of the Catholic Church was “not currently on the Agenda of the bilateral relations,” said Metropolitan Hilarion, the important Ministry of foreign Affairs chief of the Orthodox of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Swiss Portal cath.ch, he said: “In our Church, many bishops, priests and believers are not prepared to receive him.”
Here, Francis in 2016, was agreed with the Patriarch Kirill I. together on “neutral ground”: at the airport of Havana in Cuba. Francis was the first Pope, of the met after almost 1000 years, the Church split into East and West Rome, a Russian Orthodox Church head together.
Christians, Francis and Cyril in Havana (2016)l: jealousy?
In view of the unusually high popularity of the Church leader from Rome in Russia, there are voices that speak of “jealousy” in Cyrillic, which maintains a Cuddle-course with the Kremlin. At the beginning of 2016 endorsed three out of four Russians in a survey, a visit of the Catholic Pope in your country. In addition, both of the Church leaders in the Ukraine conflict and with respect to the independence of the Ukrainian churches will certainly have different views.
After all: In August 2017, the number two of the Vatican, cardinal Secretary of state Pietro Parolin, in Moscow, was already a guest. The rank was the highest Vatican guest in the Russian capital since 1999. The cardinal spoke with the Patriarch and the President. And certainly Parolin and Putin will remember this Thursday at their meeting almost two years ago. Surprises are not excluded.