Pope Francis 'could meet Russian patriarch in Jerusalem this summer'

Diverging views within the Orthodox Church on the war in Ukraine have caused splinters

Pope Francis, left, embraces Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill during their meeting in Cuba, in 2016. Reuters

The Vatican could extend Pope Francis's trip to Lebanon in June, so he can fly to Jerusalem and meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, Reuters reported on Monday.

It would be only the second meeting between Francis, 85, and Kirill, 75. Their meeting in Cuba, in 2016, was also the first between a pope and a leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since the Great Schism that split Christianity into eastern and western branches in 1054.

Kirill has given his blessing for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a position that has splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church and unleashed an internal rebellion that theologians and academics say is unprecedented.

The plan was for the Pope, who is expected in Lebanon on June 12-13, to fly to Amman, Jordan on the morning of June 14, two sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

From there, he would board a helicopter to Jerusalem on the same day for the meeting with Kirill and then return to Rome, the sources said.

One source said the trip appeared to be almost certain, while the other said it was one possibility.

Returning from his trip to Malta last week, Francis said he hoped to meet Kirill somewhere in the Middle East this year, but gave no specific location.

Pope Francis is expected in Lebanon on June 12-13. AFP

Kirill called on Russians on Sunday to rally around the authorities as Moscow pursues what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine.

The patriarch has previously made statements defending Moscow's actions in Ukraine and views the war as a bulwark against a liberal western culture that he considers decadent.

"Let the Lord help us unite during this difficult time for our fatherland, including around the authorities," the Interfax news agency quoted Kirill as saying at a sermon in Moscow.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24 to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Francis has already rejected that terminology, calling it a war.

Since the war began, Francis has only mentioned Russia explicitly in prayers, such as during a special global event for peace on March 25. But he has made clear his opposition to Russia's actions, using the words invasion, aggression and atrocities.

On Sunday, the pope called for an Easter truce in Ukraine and, in a remark that appeared to be directed at Russia, questioned the value of planting a victory flag "on a heap of rubble".

Pope Francis in Cyprus - in pictures

Pope Francis prays with migrants at the Roman Catholic church of the Holy Cross near the United Nations buffer zone in the Cypriot city of Nicosia. AFP

Worshippers take pictures of Pope Francis. AFP

Pope Francis holds an ecumenical prayer with migrants. EPA

Pope Francis greets a woman holding a child after an ecumenical prayer with migrants. AFP

Pope Francis greets faithful at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, where he is on the second day of his trip to the island.

Thousands of faithful flocked to the football stadium in Nicosia to attend mass led by Pope Francis. EPA / ALESSANDRO DI MEO

Overseas workers were among the thousands of Catholics who attended a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Friday morning. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Worshippers wave flags at a football stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, ahead of a mass celebrated by Pope Francis. The pontiff will head to Greece after he wraps up his visit to the island. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Pope Francis holds up the Eucharist during mass at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Friday morning, drawing thousands of Catholics. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Worshippers seated in front of a Lebanese flag at a public mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Nicosia, Cyprus. (Photo by Amir MAKAR / AFP)

Young girls waving flags at Pope Francis' open air mass in Nicosia, Cyprus. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Pope Francis leads a Holy Mass at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, as worshippers, many of whom are overseas workers, look on. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Pope Francis greets journalists onboard the papal plane before his five-day pastoral visit to Cyprus and Greece. The visit has been eagerly awaited by the estimated 25,000 Catholics in Cyprus. These include thousands of Maronites whose ancestors arrived from Syria and Lebanon, but most are overseas workers from the Philippines and South Asia, along with African migrants. AP

Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. AP

Pope Francis will use his trip to push two of his priorities: religious dialogue and the plight of migrants. AFP

Pope Francis is the second Catholic pontiff to set foot on Cyprus, which has a Greek Orthodox majority. Benedict XVI visited in 2010. AFP

The visit by Pope Francis has been eagerly awaited by the estimated 25,000 Catholics in a country of about a million people. These include thousands of Maronites whose ancestors arrived from Syria and Lebanon, but most are overseas workers from the Philippines and South Asia, along with African migrants. AFP

Pope Francis's trip to Cyprus and Greece is drawing new attention to the plight of migrants on Europe's borders. AP

Pope Francis is greeted at Larnaca International Airport. Reuters

Pope Francis greets people upon his arrival in Larnaca. AFP

Children holding Lebanese flags wait for Pope Francis at Larnaca International Airport. Reuters