On Wednesday, Pope Francis appeared to implicitly criticise the Russian invasion of Ukraine while addressing the Russian Orthodox hierarchy and other faith leaders at an interfaith conference in former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. This was also seen as a jibe against Patriarch Kirill, bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, who was scheduled to attend the conference, but has since boycotted the event.

The Seventh&nbsp;Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is a meeting that brings together Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and other faiths. This year, it was attended by 80 imams, patriarchs, rabbis and muftis, among which was Metropolitan Anthony, in charge of foreign relations for the Russian Orthodox Church.

Anthony in line with the head of the church has repeatedly backed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at the round table at Independence Palace, the Pope said, “God is peace. He guides us always in the way of peace, never that of war.” This was the pope’s second day in Kazakhstan, amid his official three-day state visit, to the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.&nbsp;

The remarks made on Wednesday were in line with Francis’s plea made a day prior asking the delegates present from various countries to put an end to Russia’s “senseless and tragic war” in Ukraine. On September 13, Francis spoke upon his arrival to the government officials, and diplomats with nearly 100 delegations of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Shinto and other faith groups from 50 countries. He also went on to praise Kazakhstan’s commitment to diversity and dialogue and its progress from decades of Stalinist repression.

“I have come to echo the plea of all those who cry out for peace, which is the essential path to development for our globalised world,” said the Pope on Tuesday. On the other hand, Russian Patriarch Kirill called the invasion a “metaphysical” war with the West and blessed soldiers from Moscow for going into war. He has also asserted that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. While the pope did not mention Moscow or Kyiv while speaking, on September 14, he called upon the faith leaders to promote a culture of peace.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-says-he-wants-to-go-to-moscow-to-meet-vladimir-putin-over-ukraine-crisis-report-476027">Pope Francis says he wants to go to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin over Ukraine crisis - Report</a>

“If the creator, to whom we have devoted our lives, is the author of human life, how can we who call ourselves believers consent to the destruction of that life?” the Pope questioned. He added, that while being mindful of the errors of the past, they should move forward to ensure the “Almighty will never again be held hostage to the human thirst for power.”&nbsp; 
 
“May we never justify violence. May we never allow the sacred to be exploited by the profane. The sacred must never be a prop for power, nor power a prop for the sacred!” said the Pope during the meeting.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, the Pope also publicly criticised Kirill asking him not to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “altar boy”, as he enthusiastically backed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Patriarch’s stance has also reportedly not only caused a rift with the Vatican but some other local Orthodox Churches have since cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

On Wednesday, Pope Francis appeared to implicitly criticise the Russian invasion of Ukraine while addressing the Russian Orthodox hierarchy and other faith leaders at an interfaith conference in former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

On Wednesday, Pope Francis appeared to implicitly criticise the Russian invasion of Ukraine while addressing the Russian Orthodox hierarchy and other faith leaders at an interfaith conference in former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. This was also seen as a jibe against Patriarch Kirill, bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, who was scheduled to attend the conference, but has since boycotted the event. The Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is a meeting that brings together Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and other faiths. This year, it was attended by 80 imams, patriarchs, rabbis and muftis, among which was Metropolitan Anthony, in charge of foreign relations for the Russian Orthodox Church. Anthony in line with the head of the church has repeatedly backed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at the round table at Independence Palace, the Pope said, “God is peace. He guides us always in the way of peace, never that of war.” This was the pope’s second day in Kazakhstan, amid his official three-day state visit, to the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The remarks made on Wednesday were in line with Francis’s plea made a day prior asking the delegates present from various countries to put an end to Russia’s “senseless and tragic war” in Ukraine. On September 13, Francis spoke upon his arrival to the government officials, and diplomats with nearly 100 delegations of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Shinto and other faith groups from 50 countries. He also went on to praise Kazakhstan’s commitment to diversity and dialogue and its progress from decades of Stalinist repression. “I have come to echo the plea of all those who cry out for peace, which is the essential path to development for our globalised world,” said the Pope on Tuesday. On the other hand, Russian Patriarch Kirill called the invasion a “metaphysical” war with the West and blessed soldiers from Moscow for going into war. He has also asserted that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. While the pope did not mention Moscow or Kyiv while speaking, on September 14, he called upon the faith leaders to promote a culture of peace. ALSO READ | Pope Francis says he wants to go to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin over Ukraine crisis - Report “If the creator, to whom we have devoted our lives, is the author of human life, how can we who call ourselves believers consent to the destruction of that life?” the Pope questioned. He added, that while being mindful of the errors of the past, they should move forward to ensure the “Almighty will never again be held hostage to the human thirst for power.” “May we never justify violence. May we never allow the sacred to be exploited by the profane. The sacred must never be a prop for power, nor power a prop for the sacred!” said the Pope during the meeting. Earlier this year, the Pope also publicly criticised Kirill asking him not to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “altar boy”, as he enthusiastically backed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Patriarch’s stance has also reportedly not only caused a rift with the Vatican but some other local Orthodox Churches have since cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. (With inputs from agencies)

God does not support war, says Pope in an apparent criticism of Russian patriarch

Pope&nbsp;Francis has said he has dropped plans to meet in&nbsp;June&nbsp;with&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Orthodox&nbsp;Patriarch Kirill, an ally of&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin who has backed Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Francis, who has several times implicitly criticised Russia and Putin over the war, told Argentine newspaper La Nacion in an interview that he regretted that the plan had to be "suspended" because Vatican diplomats advised that such a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;"could lend itself to much confusion at this moment".

In Moscow, the RIA news agency quoted Metropolitan Hilarion, a senior&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Orthodox&nbsp;Church&nbsp;official, as saying the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;was postponed because "the events of the last two months" would have created many difficulties in its preparation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-10-world-news-pope-calls-to-observe-easter-of-war-pak-military-airstrikes-in-afg-and-more-471708">Top 10 world news: Pope calls to observe 'Easter of war', Pak military airstrikes in Afg, and more</a>

Reuters reported on April 11 that the Vatican was considering extending the&nbsp;pope's trip to Lebanon on&nbsp;June&nbsp;12-13 by a day so that he could meet with Kirill on&nbsp;June&nbsp;14 in Jerusalem.

Kirill, 75, has given his full-throated blessing for Russia's invasion of Ukraine since it began on Feb. 24, a position that has splintered the worldwide&nbsp;Orthodox&nbsp;Church and unleashed an internal rebellion that theologians and academics say is unprecedented.

Francis, 85, has used terms such as unjustified aggression and invasion in his public comments on the war, and has lamented atrocities against civilians.

Asked in the interview why he has never named Russia or Putin specifically, Francis was quoted as saying: "A&nbsp;pope&nbsp;never names a head of state, much less a country, which is superior to its head of state".

Watch |&nbsp;Landmark reform by Pope Francis: Women and Lay Catholics to head departments

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/landmark-reform-by-pope-francis-women-and-lay-catholics-to-head-departments-464500/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Putin, a member of the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Orthodox&nbsp;Church, has described Moscow's actions as a "special military operation" in Ukraine aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" the country. Moscow has denied targetting civilians

Francis has specifically rejected Russia's terminology, calling it a war that has caused "rivers of blood".

A Vatican source familiar with the planning for the Jerusalem stop said on Friday that it had been at an advanced stage, with even the location for the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with Kirill chosen.

It would have been only their second&nbsp;meeting. Their first, in Cuba in 2016, was the first between a&nbsp;pope&nbsp;and a&nbsp;leader&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Orthodox&nbsp;Church since the Great Schism that split Christianity into Eastern and Western branches in 1054.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-pope-holding-ukrainian-flag-condemns-the-massacre-of-bucha-468798">Russia-Ukraine war: Pope, holding Ukrainian flag, condemns Bucha killing</a>

Francis said earlier this month that he was considering a trip to Kyiv, telling reporters on a flight to Malta on April 2 that it was "on the table". He has been invited by Ukrainian political and religious&nbsp;leaders.

Asked in the Argentine interview why he has not yet made the trip, he said:

"I cannot do anything that would jeopardize higher objectives, which are an end to the war, a truce or at least a humanitarian corridor. What good would it do for the&nbsp;pope&nbsp;to go to Kyiv if the war continues the next day?"

Pope Francis has said he has dropped plans to meet in June with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has backed Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Pope Francis has said he has dropped plans to meet in June with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has backed Moscow's war in Ukraine. Francis, who has several times implicitly criticised Russia and Putin over the war, told Argentine newspaper La Nacion in an interview that he regretted that the plan had to be "suspended" because Vatican diplomats advised that such a meeting "could lend itself to much confusion at this moment". In Moscow, the RIA news agency quoted Metropolitan Hilarion, a senior Russian Orthodox Church official, as saying the meeting was postponed because "the events of the last two months" would have created many difficulties in its preparation. Also read | Top 10 world news: Pope calls to observe 'Easter of war', Pak military airstrikes in Afg, and more Reuters reported on April 11 that the Vatican was considering extending the pope's trip to Lebanon on June 12-13 by a day so that he could meet with Kirill on June 14 in Jerusalem. Kirill, 75, has given his full-throated blessing for Russia's invasion of Ukraine since it began on Feb. 24, a position that has splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church and unleashed an internal rebellion that theologians and academics say is unprecedented. Francis, 85, has used terms such as unjustified aggression and invasion in his public comments on the war, and has lamented atrocities against civilians. Asked in the interview why he has never named Russia or Putin specifically, Francis was quoted as saying: "A pope never names a head of state, much less a country, which is superior to its head of state". Watch | Landmark reform by Pope Francis: Women and Lay Catholics to head departments Putin, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, has described Moscow's actions as a "special military operation" in Ukraine aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" the country. Moscow has denied targetting civilians Francis has specifically rejected Russia's terminology, calling it a war that has caused "rivers of blood". A Vatican source familiar with the planning for the Jerusalem stop said on Friday that it had been at an advanced stage, with even the location for the meeting with Kirill chosen. It would have been only their second meeting. Their first, in Cuba in 2016, was the first between a pope and a leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since the Great Schism that split Christianity into Eastern and Western branches in 1054. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war: Pope, holding Ukrainian flag, condemns Bucha killing Francis said earlier this month that he was considering a trip to Kyiv, telling reporters on a flight to Malta on April 2 that it was "on the table". He has been invited by Ukrainian political and religious leaders. Asked in the Argentine interview why he has not yet made the trip, he said: "I cannot do anything that would jeopardize higher objectives, which are an end to the war, a truce or at least a humanitarian corridor. What good would it do for the pope to go to Kyiv if the war continues the next day?"

Pope says June meeting with Russian Orthodox leader is off

Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam has announced a split with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

“The clergy unanimously announced that it is no longer possible for them to function within the Moscow patriarchate and provide a spiritually safe environment for our faithful,” the clergy said in a statement.

“This decision is extremely painful and difficult for all concerned.”

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/two-killed-in-kyiv-suburbs-after-being-hit-by-artillery-shelling-462179/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

They had asked Archbishop Elisey, of the Russian Orthodox Church in The Hague, to grant them canonical dismissal and had applied to join the Constantinople Orthodox Church, the statement added.

Russian Patriarch Kirill's full-throated blessing for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church and unleashed an internal rebellion that experts say is unprecedented.

Kirill, 75, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, sees the war as a bulwark against a West he considers decadent, particularly over the acceptance of homosexuality.

He and Putin share a vision of the "Russkiy Mir", or "Russian World", linking spiritual unity and territorial expansion aimed at parts of the ex-Soviet Union.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-seeking-military-assistance-from-china-for-ukraine-invasion-report-462010">Russia asked China for weapons and aid, US officials claim</a>

What Putin sees as a political restoration, Kirill sees as a crusade. But the patriarch has sparked a backlash at home as well as among Churches abroad linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Amsterdam branch of the Russian Orthodox Church is not the only one to object to the position taken by the church's leader.

In Russia, nearly 300 Orthodox members of a group called Russian Priests for Peace signed a letter condemning the "murderous orders" carried out in Ukraine.

"The people of Ukraine should make their choice on their own, not at gunpoint, without pressure from the West or the East," it read, referring to millions in Ukraine now split between Moscow and Kyiv.

And the Paris-based Metropolitan Jean de Doubna, who heads up some sixty parishes following the Russian tradition across western Europe, expressed his support for Ukraine in an open letter published on Wednesday.

He also appealed to Patriarch Kirill to intervene to stop the "bloodbath".

Moscow says its action is a "special military operation" designed not to occupy territory but to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" its neighbour.

Of 260 million Orthodox Christians in the world, about 100 million are in Russia itself and some of those abroad are in unity with Moscow.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam has announced a split with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. “The clergy unanimously announced that it is no longer possible for them to function within the Moscow patriarchate and provide a spiritually safe environment for our faithful,” the clergy said in a statement.

Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam has announced a split with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. “The clergy unanimously announced that it is no longer possible for them to function within the Moscow patriarchate and provide a spiritually safe environment for our faithful,” the clergy said in a statement. “This decision is extremely painful and difficult for all concerned.” They had asked Archbishop Elisey, of the Russian Orthodox Church in The Hague, to grant them canonical dismissal and had applied to join the Constantinople Orthodox Church, the statement added. Russian Patriarch Kirill's full-throated blessing for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church and unleashed an internal rebellion that experts say is unprecedented. Kirill, 75, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, sees the war as a bulwark against a West he considers decadent, particularly over the acceptance of homosexuality. He and Putin share a vision of the "Russkiy Mir", or "Russian World", linking spiritual unity and territorial expansion aimed at parts of the ex-Soviet Union. Also read | Russia asked China for weapons and aid, US officials claim What Putin sees as a political restoration, Kirill sees as a crusade. But the patriarch has sparked a backlash at home as well as among Churches abroad linked to the Moscow Patriarchate. The Amsterdam branch of the Russian Orthodox Church is not the only one to object to the position taken by the church's leader. In Russia, nearly 300 Orthodox members of a group called Russian Priests for Peace signed a letter condemning the "murderous orders" carried out in Ukraine. "The people of Ukraine should make their choice on their own, not at gunpoint, without pressure from the West or the East," it read, referring to millions in Ukraine now split between Moscow and Kyiv. And the Paris-based Metropolitan Jean de Doubna, who heads up some sixty parishes following the Russian tradition across western Europe, expressed his support for Ukraine in an open letter published on Wednesday. He also appealed to Patriarch Kirill to intervene to stop the "bloodbath". Moscow says its action is a "special military operation" designed not to occupy territory but to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" its neighbour. Of 260 million Orthodox Christians in the world, about 100 million are in Russia itself and some of those abroad are in unity with Moscow. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine invasion: Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam announces split with Moscow