Orthodox churches remember friendship of Pope Francis

Easter Sunday had seen many Orthodox leaders reflect on the significance of this year’s common date in Western and Eastern Churches and the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Orthodox leaders offered their condolences following the death of Pope Francis, remembering his sustained commitment to ecumenical dialogue.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of much of the Eastern Orthodox Church, prayed for Francis’ soul, calling him his “brother” and a “faithful friend, companion, and supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate”.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow said Pope Francis died in a time of “epochal change” for the Catholic Church. In his condolence message, Kirill reflected on the significance of their meeting in Cuba in 2016, the first-ever between the Russian patriarch and a Roman Catholic pontiff, and the desire of both Churches to heal the wounds of the past.

Kirill also noted Pope Francis’ intervention in Ukraine’s religious affairs and remembered the Pope’s appeals against “various forms of persecution”, including religious freedom.

“We will remember with gratitude his statements in defence of religious freedom and, in particular, the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church.” Kirill said, referring to the Orthodox faction historically aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate, which faces restrictions under Ukrainian law.

President Vladimir Putin said Francis had “promoted the development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See”. He was among those to note the significance of a death during the Easter season in Orthodox tradition.

The Pope’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine and his involvement in humanitarian relief were the focus of a message from the leader of the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine Orthodox, Metropolitan Epifaniy, who met Francis in December. 

The Ukrainian Orthodox leader recalled the Urbi et Orbi message delivered the day before the Pope’s death, in which he called for long and lasting peace in Ukraine, describing it as a nation “devastated by war”.

He also praised the Pope’s “sincere concern for the fate of Ukrainians suffering from Russian aggression”, noting specifically his “efforts and personal assistance in the issue of the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war, as well as the return to Ukraine of children deported by the Russian authorities”.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy posted a tribute on social media, saying Francis had “prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians”.

“He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer and foster unity,” he said. “We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.”

Independent Ukrainian primate thanks Pope for prayers at first meeting

The Orthodox conundrum

Orthodox primates across south-eastern Europe likewise expressed profound sorrow at the news of the Pope’s death.

Recognising Pope Francis’ clear vision for closer ties with the Orthodox Church, the newly elected Albanian primate, Archbishop Joan of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, praised his enduring commitment to strengthening Catholic–Orthodox relations.

“We especially value his sincere efforts to foster greater understanding between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches,” he said.

Easter Sunday had seen many Orthodox leaders reflect on the significance of this year’s common date in Western and Eastern Churches and the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, described by Patriarch Bartholomew as a source of “resurrectional joy” and the centre of a “new conciliar history”. Pope Francis had hoped to visit Turkey for the anniversary in May.

“The joint celebration this year of the ‘most holy day of Pascha’ highlights the timeliness of the subject, the solution of which not only expresses the respect of Christianity for the decrees of the Council of Nicaea, but also the awareness that ‘there should be no differentiation in such sacred matters’,” Bartholomew said.

Elsewhere in the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia observed that even in 1920 an encyclical from the Patriarch of Constantinople Germanus V had called for a common date for Easter.

The metropolitan said this was particularly important in a “divided and secularised world”, and asked: “How can we bear an efficient witness to Christ if our witness is fragmented into several, sometimes contradictory, voices?”

Nicaea anniversary to witness ‘growing communion’ of Catholic and Orthodox

Pope Francis – obituary

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