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Meeting between pope and patriarch highlights ancient rifts and current worries Meeting between pope and patriarch highlights ancient rifts and current worries
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HAVANA — A historic encounter planned Friday between Pope Francis and the leader of the powerful Russian Orthodox Church carries elements both past and present: bridging a nearly 1,000-year rift in Christianity, but also highlighting the Kremlin’s reach and crises in the Middle East. HAVANA — Pope Francis landed here Friday for an unprecedented encounter with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a meeting bridging a nearly 1,000-year rift in Christianity but whose focus will be the current turmoil in the Middle East.
The outreach alone has major significance. The brief meeting between the pontiff and Patriarch Kirill I — as their travels cross paths at Havana’s airport — would mark the first between the spiritual leaders of the Vatican and Moscow since an 11th century Christian schism over papal authority and other disputes. The brief talks between the pontiff and Patriarch Kirill I — as they crossed paths at Havana’s airport — mark the first meeting between the religious leaders of the Vatican and Moscow since a 11th century Christian schism over papal authority and other disputes.
What brings deeper scrutiny, however, are the embedded political dimensions. Francis's Alitalia jet landed just before 2 p.m. at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, and the pope was received on the tarmac by Cuban President Raul Castro, who walked with him into the terminal where the meeting will take place. There were no public statements.
For the Vatican, the moment culminates decades of overtures to the Russian church. It also could open greater channels with Moscow over the humanitarian fallout from Middle East conflicts, including the flood of refugees into Europe and ravages against ancient Christian communities and sites by Islamist militants such as the Islamic State. The cramped, decrepit airport terminal in communist-run Cuba was a highly improbable setting for the encounter between Francis and Kirill, two religious leaders in flowing vestments who preside over empires of architectural splendor.
Cuban state television showed images of the two men seated beside one another in a dark wood-paneled room, with a large crucifix on the wall behind them.
But that the leaders met in Cuba fit Francis’s view of the island’s importance, calling it a "key" between "north and south, east and west," and "a point of encounter for all peoples to join in friendship," during a visit in September.
The meeting Friday between Francis and Kirill has several political dimensions.
For the Vatican, the moment culminates decades of overtures to the Russian church. It also could open greater channels with Moscow over the humanitarian fallout from Middle East conflicts, including the flood of refugees into Europe and ravages against ancient Christian communities and their sites by Islamist militants, such as the Islamic State.
[Why the Russian church has agreed to meet the pope][Why the Russian church has agreed to meet the pope]
On Sunday — with an eye toward the upcoming meeting with Kirill — the pope decried the bloodshed in “beloved Syria,” where Russia has carried out airstrikes to aid the government of President Bashar al-Assad.On Sunday — with an eye toward the upcoming meeting with Kirill — the pope decried the bloodshed in “beloved Syria,” where Russia has carried out airstrikes to aid the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
The United States, Russia and other powers agreed Friday to a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria’s civil war within the next week, as well as humanitarian access to besieged areas. But the pact also leaves room for continued Russian air attacks.The United States, Russia and other powers agreed Friday to a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria’s civil war within the next week, as well as humanitarian access to besieged areas. But the pact also leaves room for continued Russian air attacks.
The Syrian efforts, meanwhile, further raised the possible stakes at the Havana encounter for the Kremlin, which has considerable influence over the patriarch and any high-profile exchanges. Russian President Vladimir Putin has often used Orthodox symbolism in efforts to galvanize Russian pride and identity.
Moscow could view the patriarch’s meeting with Francis as a chance to display Russia’s role in the Middle East and seek stronger bonds with the Vatican at a sensitive time.Moscow could view the patriarch’s meeting with Francis as a chance to display Russia’s role in the Middle East and seek stronger bonds with the Vatican at a sensitive time.
Russia faces increasing pressures from the West over flash points such as Ukraine, where Moscow annexed the strategic Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backs pro-Russian separatists battling the government in Kiev. Meanwhile, Russia has denounced plans to NATO to expand forces in Europe. Russia faces increasing pressures from the West over flash points, such as Ukraine, where Moscow annexed the strategic Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backs pro-Russian separatists battling the government in Kiev. Meanwhile, Russia has denounced NATO plans to expand forces in Europe.
[What the “Francis effect” hasn’t delivered in Cuba][What the “Francis effect” hasn’t delivered in Cuba]
“To have [the pope], with his internationally recognized authority, not as a critic but as an ally or at least simply as a neutrally silent figure, is highly attractive to Putin and his associates,” wrote Yury Avvakumov, an assistant professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, who specializes in Eastern church affairs. “To have [the pope], with his internationally recognized authority, not as a critic but as an ally or at least simply as a neutrally silent figure, is highly attractive to Putin and his associates,” wrote Yury Avvakumov , an assistant professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, who specializes in Eastern church affairs.
Vatican contacts with the Orthodox world are not new.Vatican contacts with the Orthodox world are not new.
Pope John Paul II — who once praised the East by saying the church must “breathe with two lungs” — made landmark trips to Greece and other mostly Orthodox nations. He also held groundbreaking talks with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who is based in Istanbul and is considered the spiritual head of the patchwork of highly autonomous Orthodox churches and patriarchs.Pope John Paul II — who once praised the East by saying the church must “breathe with two lungs” — made landmark trips to Greece and other mostly Orthodox nations. He also held groundbreaking talks with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who is based in Istanbul and is considered the spiritual head of the patchwork of highly autonomous Orthodox churches and patriarchs.
But the Russian church is by far the most powerful in terms of size, influence and wealth. Its backing for dialogue could begin reshaping the Christian landscape in profound ways.But the Russian church is by far the most powerful in terms of size, influence and wealth. Its backing for dialogue could begin reshaping the Christian landscape in profound ways.
Chances for a “full and organic reconciliation” between the churches are extremely remote at the moment, said the Rev. Paul McPartlan, a Catholic University professor who has taken part in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue since 2005.
[Gallery: Cuba embraces the pontiff][Gallery: Cuba embraces the pontiff]
Chances for a “full and organic reconciliation” between the churches are extremely remote at the moment, said the Rev. Paul McPartlan, a Catholic University professor who has taken part in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue since 2005.
“But this is a step, what I would call a moment of grace,” said McPartlan. “When that happens, other things can flow.”“But this is a step, what I would call a moment of grace,” said McPartlan. “When that happens, other things can flow.”
The fundamental issues of the millennia-old break still loom large: the power of the papacy and other theological splits. In recent decades, another point of friction was added over Orthodox accusations of Roman Catholic reach into traditionally Orthodox regions such as Ukraine and Belarus through Vatican-affiliated churches. The fundamental issues of the millennia-old break still loom large: the power of the papacy and other theological splits. In recent decades, another point of friction was added over Orthodox accusations of Roman Catholic reach into traditionally Orthodox regions, such as Ukraine and Belarus, through Vatican-affiliated churches.
Kirill, in response, has raised calls for his church to lead a “holy” union of Russian speakers that spills into Eastern Europe. Kirill may further press the Russian sway before a planned meeting in June on the Greek island of Crete among all the Orthodox leaders — the first in more than 1,200 years.
Such differences with the Vatican could still block a quest that has eluded the Holy See: an invitation for a papal visit to Russia. Even just arranging the airport encounter took two years of “secret negotiations” by bishops, Francis was quoted as saying in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.Such differences with the Vatican could still block a quest that has eluded the Holy See: an invitation for a papal visit to Russia. Even just arranging the airport encounter took two years of “secret negotiations” by bishops, Francis was quoted as saying in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Instead, a planned joined declaration Friday may stick to easier ground such as appeals for Middle East peace and aid for threatened Christian communities, some of which date back to the early centuries of the faith. Instead, a planned joined declaration Friday may stick to easier ground, such as appeals for Middle East peace and aid for threatened Christian communities, some of which date back to the early centuries of the faith.
[Aid groups hopeful and skeptical after Syrian peace deal][Aid groups hopeful and skeptical after Syrian peace deal]
Last week, Metropolitan Hilarion, spokesman for the Russian patriarchate, said urgent steps are needed to confront a “real genocide” of Christians in areas such as the Middle East and North Africa. The meeting has received heavy coverage on Russia’s state-run television networks, a reliable mirror of what authorities want to show their citizens. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a “mutual step to meet each other halfway.”
“In the present tragic situation, it is necessary to put aside internal disagreements and unite efforts for saving Christianity in the regions where it is subjected to the most severe persecution,” he said.
The meeting has received heavy coverage on Russia’s state-run television networks, a reliable mirror of what authorities want to show to their citizens. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a “mutual step to meet each other halfway,”
Officials from both churches have downplayed expectations for any discussions of the church rivalry in Ukraine, where tensions have spiked after two years of conflict.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church have long tangled over property in western Ukraine. Both leaders have steered clear of taking sides in the war in eastern Ukraine, but the local churches have inevitably been pulled into the bitter back-and-forth over whether Ukraine will align more with Russia or the West.
The backdrop of Cuba — far from quarrels in Europe — also has resonance.The backdrop of Cuba — far from quarrels in Europe — also has resonance.
It gives the Argentine-born Francis, en route to Mexico, an opportunity to showcase his Latin American roots and the reemergence of the Catholic Church on the island, long a Soviet satellite, after decades of repression by the Communist government. Francis visited Cuba in September before making his first trip to the United States. It gives the Argentine-born Francis, en route to Mexico, an opportunity to showcase his Latin American roots and the reemergence of the Catholic Church on the island, a former Soviet satellite that in recent years has rekindled ties to Moscow. Francis visited Cuba in September before making his first trip to the United States.
Kirill , who is on a tour of Cuba and South America, looks to project Russian influence in the region, including construction of a major Orthodox church in Havana despite relatively few followers. Kirill, who is on a tour of Cuba and South America, looks to project Russian influence in the region, including construction of a major Orthodox church in Havana despite relatively few followers. He arrived in Havana on Thursday, where he was received by Castro, 84, and the patriarch was also expected to meet separately with 89-year-old former president Fidel Castro, who stepped down in 2006. On Sunday, Kirill will celebrate Mass at Havana’s Russian Orthodox Church.
“On the one hand, the Russian Orthodox-Catholic concern for Christians in the Middle East could be viewed as a positive move towards shared responsibility,” said Alexander Angelov, assistant professor of religious studies at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. “
On the other hand, the “rekindling of Russian Orthodoxy in recent years,” he added, “seems to be closely related to political attempts to reinvigorate Russian nationalism and patriotism.” Francis is scheduled to depart Havana at approximately 4:30 p.m. and continue on to Mexico City to begin a six-day visit to the world's second-largest majority-Catholic nation after Brazil.
Murphy reported from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Moscow contributed to this report. In what is perhaps the most anticipated event of his trip to Mexico, Francis on Wednesday will celebrate a large public Mass in Ciudad Juarez, right along the U.S. border, in a speech expected to highlight the plight of the world's migrants and refugees. Francis will also visit the southern state of Chiapas, one of Mexico's poorest, as well as the crime-ravaged state of Michoacan, a notorious drug cartel battleground.
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