Pope to visit Kazakhstan, Kirill cancels

The Holy Father has asked for prayers as he prepares to embark on his ‘pilgrimage of peace’ to Kazakhstan, which Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has announced he will not attend.

Before the Patriarch’s cancellation the Holy Father hoped that the trip would lead to dialogue on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking in St Peter’s Square, the Holy Father noted his three-day trip to Kazakhstan’s conference of world religious leaders, which he leaves for tomorrow, will be ‘an occasion to meet so many religious representatives and to dialogue as brothers, animated by the common desire for peace, the peace for which our world is thirsting.’

“I ask everyone to accompany with prayer this pilgrimage of peace,″ Pope Francis said.

Chinese president Xi Jinping will also be in Kazakhstan at the same time where he will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin, however there are currently no plans to meet the Holy Father.

Pictured: The Holy Father during his meeting with Patriarch Kirill in Cuba.

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