Pope Francis 'could meet Russian patriarch in Jerusalem this summer'

Diverging views within the Orthodox Church on the war in Ukraine have caused splinters

Pope Francis, left, embraces Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill during their meeting in Cuba, in 2016. Reuters

The Vatican could extend Pope Francis's trip to Lebanon in June, so he can fly to Jerusalem and meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, Reuters reported on Monday.

It would be only the second meeting between Francis, 85, and Kirill, 75. Their meeting in Cuba, in 2016, was also the first between a pope and a leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since the Great Schism that split Christianity into eastern and western branches in 1054.

Kirill has given his blessing for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a position that has splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church and unleashed an internal rebellion that theologians and academics say is unprecedented.

The plan was for the Pope, who is expected in Lebanon on June 12-13, to fly to Amman, Jordan on the morning of June 14, two sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

From there, he would board a helicopter to Jerusalem on the same day for the meeting with Kirill and then return to Rome, the sources said.

One source said the trip appeared to be almost certain, while the other said it was one possibility.

Returning from his trip to Malta last week, Francis said he hoped to meet Kirill somewhere in the Middle East this year, but gave no specific location.

Kirill called on Russians on Sunday to rally around the authorities as Moscow pursues what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine.

The patriarch has previously made statements defending Moscow's actions in Ukraine and views the war as a bulwark against a liberal western culture that he considers decadent.

"Let the Lord help us unite during this difficult time for our fatherland, including around the authorities," the Interfax news agency quoted Kirill as saying at a sermon in Moscow.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24 to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Francis has already rejected that terminology, calling it a war.

Since the war began, Francis has only mentioned Russia explicitly in prayers, such as during a special global event for peace on March 25. But he has made clear his opposition to Russia's actions, using the words invasion, aggression and atrocities.

On Sunday, the pope called for an Easter truce in Ukraine and, in a remark that appeared to be directed at Russia, questioned the value of planting a victory flag "on a heap of rubble".

Pope Francis in Cyprus - in pictures