Pope, Putin meeting symbolic, but rift between churches remains

 

News reports of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit with Pope Francis on Monday in Rome indicated the event was symbolic, but mending a centuries-old rift between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Church isn't likely to happen soon.

Instead they discussed strife in Syria, an issue in which the Vatican, Russia and the Orthodox church have common interests, according to The Economist. 

 

"Pope Francis is said to have a soft spot for Ukraine's Uniate ... the current head of the Greek-Catholics has served in the pontiff's native Argentina," the magazine reported. "The Russian Orthodox Church, meanwhile, sees Ukraine as part of its 'canonical territory' and brands the Uniates, who were ruthlessly repressed in Soviet times, as a kind of Trojan Horse.