The Saudi military coalition is carrying out retaliatory strikes in

Possible meeting between Pope and Patriarch Kirill

The Pope and Moscow’s Russian Orthodox Patriarch Cyril I could meet in Jerusalem in June. This was reported by the Italian news agency ANSA on Monday, which referred to “qualified Catholic Church circles”. The Pope was due to arrive in Jerusalem from Jordan on June 14, after a two-day visit to Lebanon on June 12 and 13. The Patriarch of Moscow is a close ally of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

The Pope and Cyril are therefore expected to talk about the war in Ukraine. In early March, Cyril I justified Russia’s war against Ukraine as a “metaphysical struggle” between good and evil in the West. During Sunday’s Angelus prayer, the pope called for an Easter truce.

Pope Francis plans to visit Lebanon in June. The presidential office in Beirut announced last week that the papal ambassador to the country, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, had informed President Michel Aoun. The prerequisite, however, is “that the date and program of the visit be determined by common agreement between Lebanon and the Holy See.”

Francis also spoke to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev via video conference on Monday. He declared his intention to visit the country. The Vatican press office confirmed the conversation.