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New meeting between Russian Patriarch, Pope to occur when conditions set, cleric insists

Both churches preserve an in-depth understanding that the largest Christian communities of the globe bear particular importance for the future of Christian civilization, Spokesman of the Moscow Patriarchate Hieromonk Stephan noted

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. A brand new meeting between Russian Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis may take place when the required conditions are established and the agenda is shaped, Spokesman of the Moscow Patriarchate Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov) told TASS.

"The first meeting between Primates of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church became a very important milestone on the development path of bilateral relations. Neither side regarded this meeting as an isolated fact, and it opened a page for interaction on a new basis in the future. Obviously, as the necessary conditions and agenda progress, such meetings may occur again," the spokesman said.

The dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church has been uninterrupted and has been evolving for many years, Hieromonk Stephan said. "Lately, it has intensified, despite external factors trying to influence our relations," he added.

Both churches preserve an in-depth understanding that the largest Christian communities of the globe bear particular importance for the future of Christian civilization, the spokesman noted. Success in this regard depends on the ability of the Christian churches to overcome historical discord and problems that date back to previous centuries of coexistence, and to work together for the good of the people, Father Stephan added.