During an interview with Russian agency Ria Novosti, the Russian Orthodox Church's number two, Antonij of Volokolamsk, revealed that Patriarch Kirill will not travel to Kazakhstan in September.
Instead, an official delegation will attend and the anticipated meeting between the Russian Orthodox leader and Pope Francis will not take place. They have met on two occasions: in Cuba in 2016 and via video call in March.
Metropolitan Antonij—who met with Pope Francis in early August—also wanted to stress that he did not receive any official request from the Vatican for the Pope to meet with Patriarch Kirill. Additionally, he noted that Rome unilaterally suspended preparations for another planned meeting.
The Pope will travel to Kazakhstan from September 13-15 to participate in the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. It will be a short trip but it was hoped that the two could meet. The Russian Orthodox Church's number two pointed out that given its importance, a meeting of that kind should be held independently.
JRB
TR: AT
