“New pope has good ties with Russian Church”

MOSCOW Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in South America Bishop John of Caracas says new Pope Francis I “has good relations with Russia”. He added that the new pope was characterized by “modesty”, Itar-Tass has reported. “New pope has good ties with Russian Church” According to him, former Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio attended a Christmas liturgy in the Orthodox church in Buenos Aires every year and had close and friendly ties with Orthodox believers in Argentina. Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Francis I on becoming a new pope. “He has always been simple and modest in his communication with people. He preferred to use public transportation in Buenos Aires, a bus or subway. When he was suggested to take a taxi, he kindly refused,” Bishop John of Caracas stressed. He added that an exhibition of Russian Orthodox icons had been held in December 2012 thanks to the new pope. Bishop John added that Russian organizers had had trouble finding an exhibition space and that they had therefore asked for Bergoglio’s help. “Thanks to his personal order, an exhibition hall of the prestigious Catholic University of Argentina was allocated for more than 80 icons made by contemporary Russian artists. The exhibition that had been underway at the time was temporarily removed,” Bishop John explained. Putin has sent a telegram to Pope Francis congratulating him upon his election to the papacy, the Kremlin press service said on Thursday. “I am confident that constructive cooperation between Russia and Vatican will further successfully develop on the basis of Christian values unifying us,” he wrote in his congratulation. Putin wished the new pope good health, wellbeing and “fruitful activity towards strengthening peace and promoting inter-civilizational and interreligious dialogue.” Pope Francis I (Beta/AP) Beta

“New pope has good ties with Russian Church”

According to him, former Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio attended a Christmas liturgy in the Orthodox church in Buenos Aires every year and had close and friendly ties with Orthodox believers in Argentina.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Francis I on becoming a new pope.

“He has always been simple and modest in his communication with people. He preferred to use public transportation in Buenos Aires, a bus or subway. When he was suggested to take a taxi, he kindly refused,” Bishop John of Caracas stressed.

He added that an exhibition of Russian Orthodox icons had been held in December 2012 thanks to the new pope. Bishop John added that Russian organizers had had trouble finding an exhibition space and that they had therefore asked for Bergoglio’s help.

“Thanks to his personal order, an exhibition hall of the prestigious Catholic University of Argentina was allocated for more than 80 icons made by contemporary Russian artists. The exhibition that had been underway at the time was temporarily removed,” Bishop John explained.

Putin has sent a telegram to Pope Francis congratulating him upon his election to the papacy, the Kremlin press service said on Thursday.

“I am confident that constructive cooperation between Russia and Vatican will further successfully develop on the basis of Christian values unifying us,” he wrote in his congratulation.

Putin wished the new pope good health, wellbeing and “fruitful activity towards strengthening peace and promoting inter-civilizational and interreligious dialogue.”