Pope Francis agreed to the proposal to hold a meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ in the city of Podgorica. Dritan Abazovich, Acting Prime Minister of Montenegro, addressed the pontiff with the corresponding initiative, Pravlife writes.

According to the publication, Abazovich’s proposal was discussed in October 2022 during the Prime Minister’s visit to the Vatican and met with support there.

“I can tell you right away that I accept the invitation of Montenegro to host a new meeting,” the pontiff replied to the initiative of the head of the government of the republic.

It is reported that Abazovich’s proposal was included in the protocols of the Vatican and will be discussed with the Russian Orthodox Church. One of the factors on which the meeting depends is the conflict in Ukraine, the publication believes.

Earlier, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, commenting on the possibility of a meeting between the Pope and the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, said that “the doors remain open and the dialogue is not interrupted.”

Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, adviser to the Patriarch, believes that the proposal to hold a meeting in Montenegro is just an attempt by acting. Prime Minister of this country Dritan Abazovich to attract the attention of the media, but “essentially there is nothing to comment on.”

“In the era of likes and popularity ratings, politicians are more interested in the frequency of mentions, and not at all any result of their activities. I think that in this case we are dealing with a phenomenon of precisely this order, ”said the clergyman to RIA Novosti.