The Kiss That Took A Thousand Years

HAVANA, Cuba — Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill kissed each other and sat down together Friday for the first meeting between two branches of the Church divided since 1054 A.D. — almost 1,000 years ago.

 

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ope Francis (above right) meets for the first time with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, in Havana on February 12, 2016.

Francis, 79, in white robes and a skullcap and Kirill, 69, in black robes and a white headdress, then exchanged kisses and embraced.

They then sat down smiling for the historic meeting this afternoon at the Havana airport.