Another positive sign in favour of Christian unity has been
expressed in a joint statement issued after a two-hour long meeting
between Russian Orhtodox Patriarch Cyrille and Pope Francis at Cuba's
Havana International Airport. At the end of their reunion the two religious
leaders moved in a big reception hall in the transit area of the airport and
signed the great historic document in front of their delegations, President Raoul Castro, and several Cuban officials. There was an exchange of gifts thereafter and the introduction of the mùembers of each leader's group. And the Pope umpressed Castro by alluding to Havana as a capital of world unity! A great observation given that Havana in the early sixties was seen as a p^lace that would cause war and division in the world.
The joint communiqué consists of the 30-point project that formed the basis of the discussions between the two men. Among others, they treated the situation in the Middle East and touched on the plight of the suffering of the innocent including Christians in the region. They also had a look at the situation in many African regions where peace is inexistent. There was equally also mention about Christian unity and the efforts to be taken to achieve this goal. And there was also much observation on Vatican's role in Ukraine where Rome is strongly engaged in supporting the local Ukrainian Orthodox church closely connected with the Catholic Church, a thing which the Russian Patriarch found a bit unacceptable.
But in the end each leader, airing his opinion on the summit, expressed full satisfaction of the deliberations and saw much in them as a good beginning for better expectations ahead.
Then the Pope, accompanied by his delegation and 75 international journalists, boarded his plane for Mexico where he is expected late in the evening, local time.
Now, on another note, it remains to be seen if Mexico will do the quaking that would seriously rival the very triumphant heroic welcome the Pope received in Uganda with millions cheering him from Entebbe to Munyonyo and then to Mbuya where he stayed and idem the following day for the Namugongo trip and ceremonies with the historic High Mass described by the international press as a crowded Mass : millions in attendance, great figures including two Presidents and the Kabaka and his Queen and the opposition presidential candidates and the cabinet and the numerous traditional ruleers and chiefs, in addition to religious representatives from all colours, and the high emotional scenes including the lengthy applauses and ululation that accompanied the sign of the cross the Pope made to open Mass !!!
Okay, let's wait and see what great Mexico will deliver!
Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France )
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