Historic meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill
Havana is once again the scene of dialogue and understanding. Yesterday afternoon, February 12, the leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches held a private meeting and issued a joint statement
Author: Lissy Rodríguez Guerrero | informacion@granma.cu
february 13, 2016 10:02:13

Havana is once again the scene of dialogue and understanding. Yesterday afternoon, February 12, the leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, held a historic meeting, the first since the 1054 rupture within Christianity.
President Raúl Castro Ruz received Pope Francis around 2:00pm at Havana’s José Martí International Airport, accompanied by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and Archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega.
After an affectionate greeting the two religious leaders held a private meeting and issued a joint statement including plans for joint work.
After the historic encounter, Raúl commented, “Cuba will continue to support peace. Now comes Colombia.”
Pope Francis departed shortly thereafter, en route to Mexico for a pastoral visit, while Patriarch Kirill will continue his activities in Havana through Sunday.

Author: Fidel Castro Ruz | internet@granma.cu
february 15, 2016 08:02:21
Sadly, almost all religions have been obliged to decry the destructive reality of war and its terrible consequences. They have been obliged to devote their greatest energies to this task. The singular importance of the meeting between Pope Francis and His Holiness Kirill in Havana is that it raised the hopes of the world’s peoples.
Peace has been the golden dream of humanity, and the peoples’ aspiration, at every moment in history. Thousands of nuclear weapons are hanging over humanity’s head. Preventing the most brutal war that could be unleashed has undoubtedly been the fundamental objective of efforts by religious leaders of churches directed by men such as Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, and His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
To struggle for peace is the most sacred duty of all human beings, whatever their religion, country of origin, skin color, advanced or youthful age may be.
Fidel Castro Ruz
February 14, 2016
10:18 pm

Recibió Raúl Castro al Patriarca de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa
Su Santidad Kirill sostendrá este viernes en La Habana, un encuentro histórico con Su Santidad el papa Francisco
Autor: Redacción Nacional | internet@granma.cu
12 de febrero de 2016 00:02:54

Foto: Estudios Revolución

El Presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros, General de Ejército Raúl Castro Ruz, recibió en el aeropuerto internacional José Martí al Patriarca de Moscú y de Toda Rusia, Su Santidad Kirill, en la primera visita pastoral a Cuba como Primado de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa.
En el recibimiento se encontraban además Esteban Lazo Hernández, presidente de la Asam­­blea Nacional del Poder Popular; el canciller Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, ambos miembros del Buró Político del Partido; Mar­ta Her­nán­dez, presidenta de la Asam­blea Pro­vincial del Poder Popular en La Habana; Caridad Diego, jefa de la Oficina de Atención a los Asuntos Religiosos del Comité Central del Partido; el embajador de la Fe­deración Ru­sa en Cuba, Mijaíl Kaminin, y autoridades de la Iglesia Ortodoxa rusa.
“Con un sentimiento muy cálido visito por cuarta vez el territorio de Cuba”, inició su discurso el Patriarca Kirill, quien afirmó además que llega a nuestro país en una “visita de amistad” por invitación del General de Ejército Raúl Castro Ruz, y recordó que “los pue­blos de Ru­sia y Cuba están unidos por mu­chos años de relación, de colaboración y amistad”.

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