On Patriarch Kirill’s behalf he conveyed the pontiff an icon of St. Serafim of Sarov to congratulate him on his 80th birthday, which will be celebrated on December 17, the DECR communication service reported.
The sides discussed the development of cultural cooperation marked by important events – opening of the exhibition of Italian religious art from Vatican museums in the Tretyakov Gallery and Rome concert of spiritual music on December 11 performed by the Moscow Synodal Choir and Choir of the Sistine Chapel.
Earlier, Patriarch Kirill presented the pope of Rome a particle of St. Serafim relics. The primate celebrated his 70th birthday in November. On this occasion Pope Francis gave him a particle of his heavenly protector St. Francis of Assisi.
