... decrease in numbers of the followers of both denominations differs greatly from global indicators. The continent has around 257 million Catholics and 200.5 million Orthodox Christians, most of whom belong to the
Russian Orthodox Church
.
The Roman Catholic Church is extremely concerned about the changing religious beliefs of people in
North America
and the
Old World
. In his first encyclical
Lumen Fidei
, Pope Francis stressed that many of our contemporaries perceive the “light of Faith” as outdated, something that has lost its relevance in the age of rationality, as people search for new knowledge. It is essential for Catholicism and Christianity ...
A landmark meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis took place at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on February 12, 2016. A meeting of this kind has been unprecedented in the history of relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Growing differences in doctrinal theology and policies led to the split in once united Christianity in the Great Schism of 1054 and to establishing its Eastern and Western branches. The Russian Orthodox ...
A second meeting between Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin will take place on 10 June in Rome on the occasion of the Russian President
’s visit to ... ... Ukraine, and parts of Africa. In many of these conflicts Christians are often target of sectarian and religious hatred. The Catholic Church’s mediating message was reiterated in Sarajevo, where Francis invited Christian and Muslim communities to ...
.... Papal diplomacy is based on the provisions of public canon law. Specifically, this deals with the relationship between the Catholic Church as an independent community on the one hand, and the state on the other. This part of canon law is consistent ... ... At the time of writing, the Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with 180 states.
ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP
Pope Tawadros II and Pope Francis
The main thrust of Holy See diplomacy is directed towards the protection, preservation and restoration of peace ...