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Orthodox, Catholic primates' meeting 'initiates international coalition of all Christians'

The World Russian People's Council says the coalition should include not only Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics, but also representatives of the Protestant denominations

Pope Francis and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill Russian Orthodox Church Patriarchate Press Office/TASS

Pope Francis and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill

© Russian Orthodox Church Patriarchate Press Office/TASS

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MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill is the first step towards creation of an international public coalition assembling Christians of different denominations, the World Russian People's Council (WRPC) said in a statement on Friday.

"Effective counteraction to genocide and humiliation of believers, protection of the traditional family and the unborn child’s right to life on a global scale will be possible if an international coalition involving all Christians who are ready to actively express their civic position and to resist social evils is established," the document said.

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"We regard the meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis in Havana as the first step towards such a public coalition".

WRPC said the coalition should include "not only Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics, but also representatives of the Protestant denominations, all people of good will". This coalition may be based on "the imperatives of the biblical Decalogue - the Ten Commandments, which are underlying traditional ethics and morals".

Activities of such a coalition "will help stop the genocide of Christians, promote overcoming Christianophobia and will be an important factor in strengthening peace and international stability".

Schism split a united Christian church in 1054 and the meeting between primates of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches in Havana, Cuba, on February 12 - the first ever - saw Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill signing a joint declaration drawing world attention to urgent contemporary issues such as the persecution of Christians, abortions, euthanasia and same-sex marriages.

"The content of the document shows that existing theological differences between Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics are not an obstacle to pooling efforts on a wide range of humanitarian, cultural and moral issues", the WRPC statement says.

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World looking forward to meeting between Moscow Patriarch, Pope of Rome

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