Ukrainian ambassador to the Vatican Andriy Yurash, assured that he is doing everything possible to ensure that the meeting between Moscow Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis does not occur.

Newsroom (17/07/2022 9:42 PM Gaudium Press) In an interview with Radio Liberty, Yurash said, “The head of the Holy See speaks about a possible meeting with Kirill in September in Kazakhstan on the sidelines of the General Assembly. But we, diplomats, are doing everything possible to prevent the meeting from taking place: it will neither benefit the ecumenical dialogue nor add authority to the Apostolic capital because we are talking about a meeting with the devil’s advocate.”

He noted that the Pope represents the realm of spirituality, peace, love and the desire to find understanding among all, and we are talking about meeting with someone who justifies murder and lies every time.

“The Pope has no chance to convince the devil advocates’ corporation, which the Russian Orthodox Church is now. Every time we demonstrate what image losses will be for the Holy See in the context of how to respond to the problem of love and peace against the background of the war in Ukraine. Obviously, there is a side that suffers unfairly,” Yurash stressed.

The ambassador of Ukraine noted that all strength and love should be directed to Ukraine.

If the meeting takes place, then its format is not intended to be bilateral, as it was thought and planned for June 14 in Jerusalem.

“This will happen as part of participation in the third multi-lateral event, where there will be many participating parties,” the ambassador explained.

(Via RISU)

compiled by Raju Hasmukh