Moscow, October 22, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church has denied the alleged discussion of preparations for a visit of Pope Francis to Moscow.
"As for the new armchair pseudo-insiders and other quasi-experts: the Pope of Rome's visit to Russia is not on the agenda," the head of the Synod's department for relations of the church with society and media, Vladimir Legoyda, said on his Telegram channel on Monday morning.
Russian bloggers reported on Monday alleged preparations for Pope Francis' visit to Moscow, which was bound to demonstrate the high international standing of the Russian Orthodox Church after its break-up with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
In turn, Metropolitan Hilarion, who met with the Pontiff in the Vatican the day before, told the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero that a decision regarding this visit "will be made in bilateral contacts between the Roman Catholic Church and the Moscow Patriarchate." He did not specify the time of the visit and did not say when the discussions might start.