Pope Francis And Patriarch Kirill Ended Century-Old Religious Rift
Catholic Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill finally met in Cuba for the first ever historic meeting in nearly a thousand years since the Great Schism which saw the split of Christianity into Eastern and Western branches.
The two church leaders issued a joint declaration as they called on world leaders to protect Christians who are currently facing persecution in war-ravaged Middle East.
"In many countries of the Middle East and North Africa whole families, villages and cities of our brothers and sisters in Christ are being completely exterminated," the two leaders spoke while referring to the plight of Christians under the hands of jihadist groups like ISIS as quoted by the Reuters.
In the private dialogue at the Cuban airport, the pope and the patriarch also urged the international community for a swift end to the wars in Syria and Iraq which left many people dead and millions more displaced.
"Thousands of victims have already been claimed in the violence in Syria and Iraq, which has left many other millions without a home or means of sustenance. We urge the international community to seek an end to the violence and terrorism and, at the same time, to contribute through dialogue to a swift return to civil peace," their joint declaration reads as mentioned in a CNN report.
While supporters of the two church leaders say that the meeting was non-political, pundits view it as a politically-motivated meet-up that benefits Russia's ongoing interference in Middle East. After all, the patriarch could not have gone for a private dialog with the pope unless it has a serious backing from Putin himself according to political analyst Alexei Makarkin.
"Russia is now being criticized by the west and the Arab world for its position on Syria, and so any societal forces that won't condemn Russia are useful to it. [The pope is] not an ally of Russia, but his argument for the protection of Christians can be used by Russia to justify its campaign in Syria", said Makarkin as stated in an article by The Guardian.
