HAVANA (Sputnik) — The meeting of Russian Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis in Havana, Cuba, will focus on a range of issues, including persecution of Christians in the Middle East, falling birth rates as well as euthanasia, patriarchal press service head Alexander Volkov told Sputnik.
"The key topic of the meeting is persecution of Christians in the Middle East," Volkov stated on Thursday. "The problems that worry many people will also be on the agenda, including demographic problems, the attitude towards same sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia."
"If everything goes well, other meetings may follow [the talks in Havana]," Volkov stated on Thursday.
He also said that the Russian Orthodox Church anticipates international leaders to react to the topics that will be discussed during the meeting.
"We will expect the reaction of the international community on this meeting," Volkov stated on Thursday.
He also noted that the Pope will not cross the Cuban border.
"The Pope will not officially cross the [Cuban] border," Volkov stated on Thursday. "The meeting will take place on a neutral territory at the [Havana] airport."
