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Pope Francis has no plans to end dialogue with Russia

Francis considers it important to preserve it for mutual understanding and peace

VATICAN, September 16. /TASS/. Commenting on Vatican’s red lines in relations with Moscow, Pope Francis replied that a dialogue is vital and should always be preserved as a path towards mutual understanding and peace.

During a news conference for members of his press pool, which includes a TASS correpondent, the pontiff was asked by a Polish reporter about whether the Vatican had any red lines, which, if crossed by Moscow, would make further dialogue with Russia impossible.

"An opportunity for dialogue should always be given to everyone, because there is always a chance to change something through dialogue, to present an alternative point of view," he said during the news conference, held when Pope Francis was returning from Kazakhstan.

"It [a dialogue] should be conducted with an outstretched hand and a step forward, otherwise we will close the last door to peace," Pope Francis added.

Earlier, the head of the Roman Catholic church said he wanted to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pope Francis visited Kazakhstan to attend the 7th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on Thursday. On the sidelines of the event, he met with the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk. The Russian church official later said the meeting was held on the Pope’s initiative.

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