Following tensions arising from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Pope Leo XIV plans to meet with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church's Department for External Church Relations.
According to Channel 24, this was reported on Monday, July 21, by ANSA, citing their sources. Preliminary information indicates that the meeting will occur on Saturday, July 26.
According to these sources, Pope Leo XIV intends to hold an audience with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who is the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This meeting will mark the first encounter between Pope Leo XIV and Metropolitan Anthony, who represented Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church at the funeral of Pope Francis.
As reported by RISU, on July 9, the Pope held an audience with Volodymyr Zelensky. Their meeting took place at Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff’s summer residence located southeast of Rome.