MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. Proposals appearing periodically from politicians of different countries, to provide a platform for a subsequent meeting between the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis, show how much importance is attached to these negotiations not only for Christians, but also for global political leaders, Spokesman of the Moscow Patriarchate Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov) told TASS.

The Montenegro-based Dan newspaper reported on Thursday, citing a source, that Acting Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovich suggested last October that a meeting be held between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Podgorica, Montenegro, and the pontiff responded by consenting to the offer. The newspaper said the initiative was included in the Vatican’s protocols and would be discussed with the Russian Orthodox Church.

"The fact that different countries throughout the world offer up proposals from time to time to provide a venue for the next meeting of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Pontiff shows just how much significance is attributed to such meetings and the issues discussed there, and not just by Christians but also by political leaders concerned about the future of human civilization," Hieromonk Stephan noted.