Pope Benedict XVI receives Archbishop Hilarion

(Vatican Youtube) On September 18th, Pope Benedict XVI received in audience Archbishop Hilarion, president of the Department for External Church Affairs of the Patriarchate of Moscow.The Orthodox Archbishop is currently visiting the Vatican at the invitation of Cardinal Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.This Pontifical Council underlined that the visit will confirm the ties of friendship between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, with a view to closer collaboration and to favor the presence of the Church in the lives of the peoples of Europe and the world.