Opinions & Interviews

“Belarus can be named an example of the relations described in the joint declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. It is about the mutual witness to the truth of the Gospel of Christ and the Christian values which the modern world has been gradually losing today. It is also about the protection of the family,” the priest said.

Priest Vladimir Dolgopolov noted that so far there is no speaking about overcoming the theological differences and fundamental disagreements. The Declaration is about those issues where the Orthodox and Catholics can speak with one voice.

Father Vladimir added that similar statements about the problem of the Union which the Declaration reads about were made before. As regard Belarus, the relations between the two churches in Belarus have been developing not within the framework of the Union but on the basis of the common recognition of the basic Christian values.

As was reported, Pope and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia met for the first time in history on 12 February 2016. Before this the Popes met with the Patriarchs of Constantinople but not of Moscow. The meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill was held in Cuba. As a result of these negotiations the hierarchs adopted a joint declaration. The Belarusian exarchate is part of the Russian Orthodox Church.