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Middle East looked at as possible venue for Patriarch Kirill’s meeting with Pope Francis

Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Hilarion noted that it is difficult to say anything definite about preparation for this meeting

MOSCOW, April 10. /TASS/. The Middle East is being considered as a possible venue for a meeting between Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Pope Francis, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Hilarion said on Sunday.

"From the very beginning, the Pope and the Patriarch wanted to meet in a region, which has problems, where Christian population needs support. So, of course, the Middle East is considered as a priority venue for such a meeting," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel.

He noted however that it is difficult to say anything definite about preparation for this meeting. "In the current difficult political situation, not only issues concerning the substantive aspects of the meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch but also issues of security, transport and logistics require close attention," he explained.

Earlier, Metropolitan Hilarion said that a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis may be organized this year.

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