Marta Allevato

AsiaNews sources say the message was brought to Kirill personally by the director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, who performed in the Russian capital while the Pope met with Bartholomew in the Holy Land.

Serghei Chapnin , director of the "Moscow Patriarchate Journal" speaks to AsiaNews about the challenges of contemporary Russian society and the contribution that Christianity can give to a real "moral change" in the country .

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Church elects Metropolitan Onofrio locum tenens to substitute an ailing Vladimir. A special commission for dialogue with the other two Orthodox Churches, the autocephalous and the Kiev Patriarchate, also established. According to the editor of the Moscow Patriarchate Journal, Sergei Chapnin, this is an unexpected event of huge importance that could affect the religious and social situation of the country.

Vice president of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Rushan Abbyasov , says we must defend the Christian presence in the Middle Eastern country . Muslim community " is the victim of a media attack” in Russia and worldwide. “Prospective” of seeing the Pope in Moscow. A conversation with AsiaNews .

Fears for fate of Christians in the Middle East. The memory of the two kidnapped Orthodox bishops. Esteem for Pope Francis, who " knows " orthodoxy. The anti-gay law and close cooperation with the Kremlin .

In an interview with AsiaNews, Mgr Pezzi talks about surprise among Catholics and Orthodox over Card Bergoglio and expectations about inter-Church dialogue. Some impediments still linger before a meeting between the pontiff and the patriarch of Moscow can be arranged, such as properties held by the Uniate Church in western Ukraine. Pope's election sparks a desire for renewal and a return to the origins within the Russian Orthodox Church.

Msgr. Pezzi speaks of the meaning of Christmas in the Russian community in a time of great social change, of ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox Church and sends his best wishes to Orthodox brethren.

Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, tells AsiaNews about his first year of ministry in Russia. The testimony of the small Russian Catholic community helps to introduce Russian society to Christmas atmosphere. Good relations with the Orthodox Church, help to proclaim the importance of religious principle for the Protection of the person and the family.

We speak to the Director of the Library of the Spirit in Moscow, an example of dialogue and encounter between the two churches: the climate has improved not only at the diplomatic level, but also in the field. But now we need a new message of common witness.

Archbishop Paolo Pezzi speaks of the successes and difficulties of collaboration with the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate. Fruitful work in the field of culture, yet sensitive to the issue of education, although he does "not rule out" the possibility that one day Catholicism may be taught in schools.

In Damascus, Caritas Syria is inaugurating a new programme that will offer free instruction to more than 450 girls, without regard to faith. Often, because of economic difficulties and the lack of room in the public schools, many young female refugees are forced to work under conditions of exploitation, even including prostitution. An effort to stem the humanitarian crisis for the Iraqis in Syria.

The Christmas season among thousands of Chaldean families, refugees in Damascus. They have lost everything: jobs, homes, relatives and friends. They dream of leaving Syria and of being welcomed into “any Western nation, because there is no more room for Christians in Iraq”. In the meantime they wait full of hope, because “there is one thing that no-one can take from us: our faith!”. An appeal to the Pope and the world: “Mercy for the people of Iraq!”. The report of our AsiaNews envoy.