Department for External Church Relations
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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated Pope Francis on his 85th birthday.
HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS
POPE OF ROME
Your Holiness,
Pease accept my heartfelt greetings on this memorable date – your 85th birthday.
For many years you have been serving God the Bestower of great gifts, always ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Pet 3:15), and encouraging your contemporaries to live in accordance with God’s commandments and perform works of love and mercy, so that they by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality (Rom 2:7).
As Primates of the two largest Christian Churches in the world, we have a special responsibility for the future of humankind. This responsibility has a global dimension, as evidenced by our meeting in Havana and the Joint Declaration we signed. I am glad to note that while remaining faithful to their own traditions, our Churches have achieved a high level of cooperation. It enables us to work together to glorify the name of God throughout the world, strengthen the imperishable moral ideals in society, promote interfaith dialogue, and give proper responses to the present-day challenges.
Greeting Your Holiness on this memorable day, I am praying that God may give you strength in body and spirit and that you may always remain not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord (Rom 12:11), succeeding in your Primatial labours.
Many and good years to you.
With love in Christ Jesus,
+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
Patriarch
Department Chairman
29.05.2022
27.05.2022
18.05.2022
24.04.2022