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Bishop Leonid believes Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis may discuss Ukraine crisis

The discussion "will be devoted to human suffering, establishing peace and caring for those Christians that were forced to leave their homes not by their own will," he noted

Pope Francis I (left) and the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Kirill I EPA/GIORGIO ONORATI, Denis Kozhevnikov/TASS

Pope Francis I (left) and the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Kirill I

© EPA/GIORGIO ONORATI, Denis Kozhevnikov/TASS

BUENOS AIRES, February 9. /TASS/. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church will discuss the situation in the Middle East and other issues that worry millions of people at their meeting in Cuba, Bishop Leonid of Argentina and South America told TASS on Tuesday.

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"The heads will express the opinions of millions of people because there are tens and hundreds of millions of people behind each of them that want peace," Bishop Leonid said. "Who shall care about this world if not the heads of churches?" he added.

The discussion between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis "will be devoted to human suffering, establishing peace and caring for those Christians that were forced to leave their homes not by their own will," he noted. Even Ukrainian crisis may be discussed at the meeting in Havana, he added. "Considering the charisma of both leaders, we think that the meeting will be fruitful," Bishop Leonid said.

Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis will most likely discuss common threats for Christians

Mitred Archpriest Mikhail Protopopov from the Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand told TASS that Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis will discuss common threats for the Christian world.

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

He said that the meeting "will most likely focus on discussing approaches of the churches to common problems that they face in the modern world." "This will first of all be a personal meeting between the heads of churches. I don’t think that any theological issues will be on the agenda. The participants will most likely discuss common threats for the Christian world," Mitred Archpriest Mikhail Protopopov said adding that among those threats were "Western mass culture of consumption that erodes the basis of spirituality" and "horrific persecution that Christians in the Middle East are subjected to."

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia will make his first pastoral visit to Latin America on February 11-22. He will hold a meeting with Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church on February 12 in Cuba. Patriarch Kirill will also visit Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

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