Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Archives

Pope weaves ‘Tale of Two Cities’ on Hong Kong and Hagia Sophia

Jul 13, 2020

ROME – Cue the soundtrack from film adaptations of the Dickens classic, because what Pope Francis has given us over the last week, ladies and gentlemen, is a Tale of Two Cities … only the settings aren’t London and Paris, they’re Beijing and Ankara. We’re in the middle of July,

By John L. Allen Jr.

Orthodox leader in Jerusalem merits a spot on Catholic radar screen

Feb 28, 2020

On any list of intriguing Christian leaders, a slot somewhere near the top right now would have to be reserved for Theophilus III, officially “His Most Godly Beatitude, the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine, Israel, Syria, Arabia, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee, and Holy Zion.”

By John L. Allen Jr.

Russian Orthodox Church cuts ties with Alexandria patriarch

Dec 27, 2019

The Russian Orthodox church has cut ties with the head of the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria following his decision to recognize Ukraine’s new independent Orthodox church.

By Vladimir Isachenkov

Russians hacked Catholic, Orthodox clergy amid Ukrainian push for autocephaly

Sep 8, 2018

Russian hackers infiltrated the email inboxes of Orthodox, Catholic, and other religious leaders connected to Ukraine amid conflict between Kyiv and Moscow over Ukraine’s political and religious independence.

By Courtney Grogan

In wildly different ways, Francis and Trump share a problem with Putin

Jul 22, 2018

As President Donald Trump tries to spin his summit with Putin as a success, Pope Francis may be nearing another crossroads in his own relationship with Russia.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Why Russian Orthodox chief left his chair empty at pope’s summit

Jul 11, 2018

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, presumably had several reasons for skipping last Saturday’s ecumenical gathering in Bari hosted by Pope Francis.

By John L. Allen Jr.