Moscow Archives

Moscow’s veto on Catholic/Orthodox dialogue may be slipping away
- Oct 20, 2018
If independence for the Orthodox church in Ukraine is followed by unification of its various branches, it could open the door for surprising ecumenical progress with the Vatican.

By John L. Allen Jr.
Parolin’s visit to Russia key step in Pope Francis’s courtship of Putin
- Jul 21, 2017
The second highest-ranking official in the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is preparing for his August trip to Russia. The historic event represents a key step in Pope Francis’s courtship with President Putin, with one eye pointed toward ambitious ecumenical possibilities with the Orthodox Church and the other fixed on the Middle East.

By Claire Giangravè
Gut-check time in June for both Orthodox and Catholics
- Jun 12, 2016
Catholics may be tempted to see June’s “Holy and Great Council” of the Orthodox churches as having nothing to do with them, but that’s a serious mistake. Catholics have an investment in whether the Orthodox get their act together for theological, pastoral, and political reasons.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Bulgarian church says it won’t attend historic Orthodox council

Jun 11, 2016

A spokesperson for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church says its decision not to participate in the “Great and Holy Council,” designed to bring together the heads of all 14 independent Orthodox churches in Crete later this month, is final. Organizers say the summit is going ahead anyway, and Pope Francis is sending a Vatican delegation to observe.

Young clergy lead Church in Ukraine on the front lines

Oct 24, 2014

KIEV, UKRAINE — Almost 23 years after its independence from the Soviet Union, Ukraine is, in many ways, fighting two wars at the same time: An internal one against corruption, and an external one with Russia. In both cases, religious leaders are on the front lines — either praying in