Pope, Patriarch Kirill Agree on Possible Catholic-Orthodox Pilgrim Exchange

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia agreed to work on joint projects, including possible pilgrim exchanges, after their meeting in Havana, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The historic meeting between head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis and head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia occurred at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport on Friday. The meeting marks the first time a Catholic pope and an Orthodox patriarch meet since Christianity split into western and eastern branches in 1054.

"We talked about the future of Christians [at the Havana meeting], about how we can develop our cooperation, possible joint projects, the exchange of pilgrims, the pilgrimage of the Orthodox to the holy places of the Catholic Church, to the relics of the saints, the pilgrimage of [Catholics] to Orthodox shrines. Some very specific projects related to cooperation between the two churches were mapped out," Metropolitan Hilarion said on the Rossiya 24 TV channel after the Havana meeting.

Patriarch Kirill said his meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis in the capital of Cuba was brotherly and that both agreed that they should actively cooperate as they carry responsibility for the future of world civilization.

Pope Francis said the Friday meeting was open and a number of initiatives discussed during the talks could be implemented.

Pope Francis left Cuba after the historic meeting in Cuba’s capital. The pontiff will now travel to Mexico, where he will stay from February 12 to 18.