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Pope Francis values Orthodoxy traditions

“God is in the centre of the tradition that makes Orthodoxy priceless,” Pope Francis said

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

VATICAN CITY, July 29 (Itar-Tass) - Pope Francis said he valued spirituality and traditions of Orthodoxy.

On the occasion of the Baptism of Rus 1025th anniversary the Pope cited words of John Paul II about “the light from the East”. He spoke about the tradition “of praising Our Lord Jesus Christ”.

“God is in the centre of the tradition that makes Orthodoxy priceless,” Pope Francis told Itar-Tass.

Speaking about the plans of further trips, the Pope said he would visit Sardinia on September 22. Then he will travel to the sacred city of Assisi on October 4.

He said he would like to fly to Piedmont to visit his relatives. But the date of the visit is not specified yet. Pope Francis said he was also planning to travel to the Asian continent, in particular, to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Pope Francis is expected to meet Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in Jerusalem within the 50th anniversary of its visit by Pope Paul VI. The invitations have been gotten and the date of the trip is being specified, the Pope said.

Pope Francis confirmed that he intended to hold the joint canonization ceremony of John Paul II and John XXVIII. Meanwhile, the ceremony may be postponed for organizational reasons.

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