The Pope and The Patriarch - Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church meet and speak as brothers

Covering All Things Catholic

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Pope Francis met at the  Jose Marti airport in Havana Feb. 12, 2016 –  the first-ever papal meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church,  a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity. (Max Rossi / AP) Pope, Russian patriarch embrace in historic meeting By John L. Allen Jr. and Inés San Martín We spoke as brothers, Pope Francis said simply. We have the same baptism, we are both bishops. Patriarch Kirill responded in kind, pledging to work with Catholics to defend Christianity around the world. Read more →