Apotheoun Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I guess someone forgot to tell the pope that he should not be finalizing a concordat with Belarus. Maybe. Phillip II took another rout. I think that Russia would be a much better place if more Patriarchs/Metropolitans followed his lead rather than rushing to a cretin like Putins side whenever Russia's latest strongman wants to use Russian nationalism to consolidate his rule. Belarus is part of the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, which is why the Patriarch has to work with the leader of that country. It is not like the Patriarch has the political power to have the man remove or to force him to resign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 I guess someone forgot to tell the pope that he should not be finalizing a concordat with Belarus. I don't know what the Pope said. I don't think that just saying 'Congratulations on winning, I hope you do the right thing, remember human rights are important blah blah blah.' That's done all the time to politely set the stage for encouraging strongmen to not be awful without embarrassing them on the world stage and provoking them. Krill went well beyond that and he has a habit of snuggling up to the corrupt and powerful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I don't know what the Pope said. I don't think that just saying 'Congratulations on winning, I hope you do the right thing, remember human rights are important blah blah blah.' That's done all the time to politely set the stage for encouraging strongmen to not be awful without embarrassing them on the world stage and provoking them. Krill went well beyond that and he has a habit of snuggling up to the corrupt and powerful. I don't know what the pope said either when Lukashenko visited the Vatican, but the pope - like patriarch Kirill - has a flock to watch over in Belarus, and sometimes you have to work with undesirable people for the good of those in your care. It may not be a wonderful thing, but it is a necessary thing. The Vatican works with the leadership in Cuba in a similar fashion, and has extended an olive branch to the governing leadership in China in a similar vein. It is not ideal, but the world of politics is rarely ideal. Video excerpts from the Divine Liturgy commemorating the fourth anniversary of the election as Kirill as Patriarch of Moscow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJRD0WC7DDE Be sure to watch this video: the Russian Orthodox Church is really good at liturgy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Fair enough. And I agree about the Russian liturgy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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