{"id":34962,"date":"2016-02-05T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2016-02-05T16:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=34962"},"modified":"2016-02-05T12:06:32","modified_gmt":"2016-02-05T20:06:32","slug":"pope-francis-to-meet-russian-patriarch-kirill-in-cuba-an-ecumenical-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/religious-news\/pope-francis-to-meet-russian-patriarch-kirill-in-cuba-an-ecumenical-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis to meet Russian Patriarch Kirill in Cuba: an ecumenical first"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nPope Francis (cover) and Patriarch Kirill (Kremlin.ru)<\/em><\/p>\n

COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis is now scheduled to meet Russian Patriarch Kirill in Cuba:<\/p>\n

February 5, 2016<\/p>\n

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, will meet with Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, next week at the first meeting between the leaders of the two churches in history.<\/p>\n

The Vatican made the announcement Friday. It said Francis will meet with Kirill in Cuba on February 12. The meeting is the first in history between a pope and Russian Orthodox Patriarch, which is the most influential of the Orthodox churches.<\/p>\n

Roman Catholic popes have previously met with Istanbul-based patriarchs of the worldwide Eastern Orthodox church. The Russian Orthodox Church has 165 million of the world’s 250 million Orthodox Christians.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The two men are set to hold about two hours of talks at the Havana airport, at a summit arranged by Cuban President Raul Castro. http:\/\/www.voanews.com\/content\/pope-to-meet-russian-orthodox-church-patriarch-in-cuba\/3178098.html<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

February 5, 2016<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The Holy See and the Patriarchate of Moscow are pleased to announce that, by the grace of God, His Holiness Pope Francis and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will meet on February 12 next,” the Holy See statement said..<\/p>\n

“Their meeting will take place in Cuba, where the Pope will make a stop on his way to Mexico, and where the Patriarch will be on an official visit. It will include a personal conversation at Havana’s Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ed International Airport, and will conclude with the signing of a joint declaration.<\/p>\n

“This meeting of the Primates of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, after a long preparation, will be the first in history and will mark an important stage in relations between the two Churches. The Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate hope that it will also be a sign of hope for all people of good will.”\u00a0http:\/\/www.ecumenicalnews.com\/article\/pope-francis-to-meet-with-russian-patriarch-kirill-in-cuba\/38059.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

February 5, 2016<\/p>\n

Pope Francis and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in a historic step to heal the 1,000-year-old schism that divided Christianity between East and West, both churches announced Friday. …<\/p>\n

The two churches split during the Great Schism of 1054 and have remained estranged over a host of issues, including the primacy of the pope and Russian Orthodox accusations that the Catholic Church is poaching converts in former Soviet lands.<\/p>\n

Those tensions have prevented previous popes from ever meeting with the Russian patriarch, even though the Vatican has long insisted that it was merely ministering to tiny Catholic communities in largely Orthodox lands.<\/p>\n

‘You call me and I’ll go’<\/h2>\n

The persecution of Christians \u2014 Catholic and Orthodox \u2014 in the Middle East and Africa, however, has had the effect of bringing the two churches closer together. Both the Vatican and the Orthodox Church have been outspoken in denouncing attacks on Christians and the destruction of Christian monuments, particularly in Syria.<\/p>\n

In November 2014, Francis had said he had told Kirill: “I’ll go wherever you want. You call me and I’ll go.” Kirill will be in Cuba on an official visit, his first to Latin America as patriarch.<\/p>\n

The meeting, which was announced jointly at the Vatican and in Moscow, marks a major development in the Vatican’s long effort to bridge the divisions in Christianity.\u00a0http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/world\/pope-francis-russian-orthodox-meet-1.3435082<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The term “ponifex maximus” means great bridge builder. It was a title that the pagan Roman emperors held. The pagan emperors claimed to be the bridge between the gods and humans. Many want to see bridges between religions claiming to be Christian.<\/p>\n

The title Pontifex Maximus<\/em> had been held by many Roman Emperors, including Constantine of the 4th century.\u00a0 Here is a report from The Catholic Encyclopedia<\/em> about the early reign of Constantine:<\/p>\n

Could not Sol Deus Invictus<\/em>, to whom even Constantine dedicated his coins for a long time, or Sol Mithras Deus Invictus, venerated by Diocletian and Galerius, become the supreme god of the empire? Constantine may have pondered over this. Nor had he absolutely rejected the thought even after a miraculous event had strongly influenced him in favour of the God of the Christians\u2026As pontifex maximus<\/em> he watched over the heathen worship and protected its rights (Herbermann, Charles, and Georg Grupp. Constantine the Great. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. Nihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 1 Sept. 2008 <http:\/\/www.newadvent.org\/cathen\/04295c.htm>).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A few decades after Constantine died, the Roman Emperor Gratian refused the title. Here is one report:<\/p>\n

Pontifex Maximus\u2026Gratian refused the pontifical robe. \u00a0He was the last \u00a0Roman emperor to hold that title, for the college of Pontiffs was abolished under Emperor Theodosius in 395 C.E. (White C.\u00a0 The Emergence of Christianity.\u00a0 Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007 p. 89).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, Catholic sources confirm that Bishop Siricius quickly picked up the title:<\/p>\n

SIRICIUS, ST. (384-399)<\/strong>…was the first to assume the title of pope from the Greek papa<\/em> meaning father (Lopes A. The Popes: The lives of the pontiffs through 2000 years of history. Futura Edizoni, Roma, 1997, p. 13).<\/p>\n

The title pope<\/em> (papa<\/em>)…It was apparently in the fourth century that it began to become a distinctive title of the Roman Pontiff. Pope Siricius (d. 398) seems so to use it (Ep. vi in P. L., XIII, 1164) (Joyce G. H. Transcribed by Gerard Haffner. The Pope. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII. Copyright \u00a9 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright \u00a9 2003 by Kevin Knight. Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When one travels throughout Rome, one can often see the initials P.M. on various monuments next to a pope’s name, signalling the claim that that pope is the pontifex maximus.\u00a0 A title that is not in the Bible, nor one that early Christians ever applied to their leaders.<\/p>\n

Now as far as the current pontiff, Francis has been able to get along with the Russian Patriarch for several reasons, including not coming out in favor of the Kiev government as much as those in Europe would have liked.<\/p>\n

In February of 2015, I posed the following:<\/p>\n

Pope Francis has refrained from being highly critical of Russia in all of this for several reasons, including his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his desire to attain unity with the Russian Orthodox church.<\/p>\n

The Russian Orthodox church has the most members of any branch of the Eastern Orthodox<\/a> faith, and if Pope Francis wants to get ecumenical unity with the Eastern Orthodox, which of course he does, he likely has concluded that he needs to be careful to not directly offend them if he perceives that as possible.<\/p>\n

Thus, the Vatican’s approach to Ukraine, in my view, is mainly one of alignment with the ecumenical and interfaith agenda that Pope Francis has. As I have written before, I believe that the Russian Orthodox will, for a time, provide at least tacit support for the changed ‘Catholic’<\/a> faith of the Church of Rome and the final Beast power that will arise in Europe<\/a>. However, since the Bible shows that a Russian-led confederation will turn against the end time ‘daughter of Babylon’ that Europe will become (Jeremiah 50:41-43; 51:27-33), it would seem that the Russian Orthodox church will also distance itself from whatever version of religion that final Beast power will cling to (the Babylonian leaders will turn against the Church of Seven Hills according to the Bible–Revelation 17:9,16-18). (Thiel B. Russian Patriarch Kirill praises Vatican\u2019s approach to Ukrainian crisis<\/a>. February 4, 2015)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pope Francis is working on building ‘bridges’ between many religions and is interested in the Russian Orthodox.<\/p>\n

As far as Cuba goes, Pope Francis has been working in that officially atheistic land as well. Raul Castro, the current President of Cuba, has expressed interest in possibly becoming Roman Catholic again (see Cuba\u2019s president says he may convert back to Catholicism<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Bible warns against the type of Babylonian unity (Revelation 17,18) that the Vatican has in mind.\u00a0 And even if a rift with the Russian Orthodox is temporarily papered over, the time will come when the Russians will turn against the Beast powers of Europe (Revelation 13)–the daughter of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:41-43). Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?<\/a><\/p>\n

That being said, though there will likely be ups and downs in the relationship, continue to look for cooperation between the Russian Orthodox and the Vatican for the next several years at least.<\/p>\n

Pope Francis is also trying to cozy up with the Protestants as our latest sermonette video, Pope Francis’ Celebration of Reformation’s 500th Anniversary<\/a>, shows.<\/em><\/p>\n

Some items of possibly related interest may include:<\/em><\/p>\n

Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing<\/em> Church of God?<\/a> Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. [Portugu\u00eas: Qual \u00e9 fiel: A igreja cat\u00f3lica romana ou a igreja do deus?<\/a>]
\nWhy Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?<\/a> Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement? <\/a>
\nWill the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction?<\/a> Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video of related interest could be Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?<\/a>
\nSome Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
\nOrthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics<\/a> Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
\nSatan’s Plan<\/a> Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future?
\nWill the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction?<\/a> Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against?
\nPope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?<\/a> Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of \u2018Mary.\u2019 Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?<\/a>
\n<\/a>Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing<\/em> Church of God?<\/a> Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. [Portugu\u00eas: Qual \u00e9 fiel: A igreja cat\u00f3lica romana ou a igreja do deus?<\/a>]
\nWhy Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?<\/a> Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement? <\/a>
\nWill the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction?<\/a> Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III?<\/a> and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?<\/a>
\nBeware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction!<\/a> What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their \u2018mother church\u2019 in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan<\/a>.Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy<\/a> [Espa\u00f1ol: M\u00e9xico, Am\u00e9rica central, Suram\u00e9rica, Brasil y el Caribe en la profec\u00eda<\/a>] [Portugu\u00eas: M\u00e9xico, Am\u00e9rica Central, \u00c1m\u00e9rica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia<\/a>] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What role might the various Caribbean nations\/territories play?
\nMust the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?<\/a> Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation<\/a>.
\nWhen Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018?<\/a> Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: \u00bfPuede comenzar la Gran Tribulaci\u00f3n en 2016 o 2017? \u00bfEs el Tiempo de los Gentiles?<\/a> You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives<\/a>. A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?<\/a>
\nCould Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? <\/a>Former Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now Pope Francis. According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis is in the position of \u201cPeter the Roman,\u201d the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? Could a Jesuit be \u201cthe black pope\u201d?
\nPope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?<\/a> Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of \u2018Mary.\u2019 Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?<\/a>
\nCOGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions<\/a> What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
\nWhere is the True Christian Church Today?<\/a> This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? <\/a>Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: \u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?<\/a> Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE?<\/a> Here is a link in the French language: O\u00f9 est la vraie \u00c9glise Chr\u00e9tienne aujourd\u2019hui?<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Continuing History of the Church of God<\/a> This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D<\/a>. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries<\/a>. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuaci\u00f3n de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios<\/a>, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes<\/a>, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw\u2019ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete<\/a>.
\nThe Last Pope Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis?<\/em><\/a> Why might Pope Francis be the last pope? What happens if he is? Biblical and other prophecies help explain what to expect.
\nThe Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book<\/a> What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roman”? This 186 page book provides information and answers.
\nThe Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle <\/a>This electronic version of the printed book which is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon \u0019s Free<\/strong> Reader Apps<\/a>. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle. <\/a>
\nThe Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy<\/a> Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?<\/a>
\nRussia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future<\/a> Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?<\/a>
\nRussia in the Bible and in Prophecy <\/a>Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
\nEzekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day?<\/a> Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fufilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pope Francis (cover) and Patriarch Kirill (Kremlin.ru) COGwriter The Vatican announced that Pope Francis is now scheduled to meet Russian Patriarch Kirill in Cuba: February 5, 2016 Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, will meet with Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, next week at the first meeting between the leaders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-religious-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t