Department for External Church Relations
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Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe expresses solidarity with position of Russian Orthodox Church regarding anti-Christian and anti-church sentiments
In November 2012, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, sent His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia a letter in which he expressed his solidarity with the position of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the growing anti-Christian and anti-church sentiments manifesting themselves, in particular, in the acts of vandalism against Christian symbols and in the insults to the feelings of the faithful.
Cardinal Sepe noted that in his heart, the Butovo shooting range and the church dedicated to the new martyrs, are symbols of the Russian Church in Her martyrdom in modern times. Cardinal Sepe visited the Butovo shooting range several years ago during his pilgrimage to Russia.
I find comfort in the conviction that the valuable mission that your Church has performed in society, by taking pastoral care of and responding to the needs and demands of those to whom She witnesses about God’s love and evangelical salvation, would overcome the obstacles which may be put in its way… This mission and the important ministry of Your Holiness are the most significant examples for the Christian world and for Europe, Archbishop of Naples writes.
Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for taking part in a historical event of signing the Joint Message to the Peoples of Russia and Poland last August in Warsaw. The document is a most important landmark on the way towards the reconciliation between the Russian and Polish people and will lay the foundation of such Europe that will be able to respond to its vocation in the world with dignity, the hierarch of the Catholic Church writes in conclusion.
Patriarch
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