In a significant diplomatic gesture, Pope Leo met on Saturday with Metropolitan Anthony, a senior leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the strained relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches since the invasion began.
The Vatican confirmed that Metropolitan Anthony, who serves as chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department of External Church Relations, led a delegation of six high-profile clerics during the private audience held Saturday morning.
While the Vatican did not provide extensive details about the conversation, the meeting is seen as part of a broader effort to maintain open lines of communication between the two Christian traditions amid deepening global and religious divides triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Relations between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church have deteriorated sharply over the past three years, particularly after the Russian Orthodox hierarchy including Patriarch Kirill publicly endorsed the war, framing it as a spiritual and cultural struggle. The Vatican, by contrast, has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Pope Leo, who has continued the Vatican’s cautious diplomatic approach inherited from his predecessor, is believed to be working quietly behind the scenes to encourage peace dialogues while also avoiding direct confrontation with Russian religious authorities.
This latest meeting comes amid renewed international calls for religious leaders to use their moral authority to de-escalate the war and foster reconciliation efforts. It also follows a visit earlier this month by Ukrainian Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who urged the Vatican to be firm in its support for Ukrainian sovereignty.
The presence of Metropolitan Anthony in Rome suggests that despite tensions, dialogue remains possible, and the Holy See continues to pursue a “diplomacy of the Spirit” to bridge the rift between the churches.
The Vatican has not indicated whether future meetings are planned, but observers note that inter-church diplomacy could play a growing role in any eventual peace negotiations or post-war reconciliation efforts.
