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Pope Francis says proposed June meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill called off

The Cruxnow reported, Pope Francis told an Argentine journalist that his planned second meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill – penciled in for June in Jerusalem – has been canceled, and argued that there is no sense in him visiting Kyiv if Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would resume “the following day.”
“I cannot do anything that would jeopardize higher objectives, which are the end of the war, a truce or at least a humanitarian corridor,” he said, speaking with Argentine newspaper La Nacion. “What would be the use of the pope going to Kyiv if the war continues the next day?”
On his refusal thus far to mention either Russia or its president Vladimir Putin, Francis said that no pope ever condemns a head of state, “much less a country, which is superior to its head of state.”
The pope and the patriarch met for the first time in 2016 at the airport of Havana, Cuba.
There have been several reports of a planned meeting between the two religious leaders later this year.

The pontiff also said that there are always efforts from the Vatican to work for a lasting piece.
Francis wrote: “I cannot tell you the details because they would no longer be diplomatic efforts. But the attempts will never cease."
Speaking about his unprecedented visit to the Russian embassy to the Holy See the day after the invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, Francis said that it was his own decision.
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“It is clear for those who want to see it well that I was signaling to the government that it can put an end to the war this instant,” he said. “To be honest with you, I would like to do something so that there will not be one more death in Ukraine. Not one more. And I am ready to do everything.”
Francis also said: “All war is anachronistic in this world and at this stage of civilization. That is why I also publicly kissed the Ukrainian flag. It was a gesture of solidarity with their dead, with their families and with those who suffer emigration.”
Speaking about Kirill, a close ally of Putin who has supported the war, Francis said that his relationship to the Russian Orthodox leader is “very good,” and that he regrets the fact that the Vatican had to cancel a second meeting, “which we had scheduled for June in Jerusalem.”
Pope Francis says he is considering trip to Kyiv
“Our diplomacy understood that a meeting between the two at this time could lend itself to much confusion,” the pope said.
“I have always promoted interreligious dialogue,” Francis told journalist Joaquin Morales Sola. “When I was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, I brought together Christians, Jews and Muslims in a fruitful dialogue. It was one of the initiatives of which I am most proud. It is the same policy that I promote in the Vatican.”
Addressing a controversy from last week, when Argentine reporter Gustavo Sylvestre made public a private letter Francis had written to him in which he accused reporters of “coprophilia” – having a fetish with excrement – he argued that he had never said that all journalists can be accused of this.
Pope Francis for the first time implicitly criticises Putin over Ukraine invasion
“What I wanted to do was to point out the temptations to which a journalist can be exposed,” he said. “In the same way, I point out the temptations to which priests, bishops and even popes can be exposed! I always talk about journalism as a ‘noble profession’ and that is what I told this journalist [Sylvestre]. If I thought that all journalists practice coprophilia, you would not be sitting with me today.”
The pontiff added that, when asked by the journalist if he could publish the letter, the pope had specifically said no: “I answered him that it was better not to make it known, so as not to throw kerosene on the fire.”
Source: cruxnow
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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