Kirill, new Patriarch of the Russian Orhodox Church

1.30 Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad has been elected Patriarch of Moscow and of all Russian, a choice that represents hope for the continuation of ecumenical dialogue.The Catholic Archbishop of Moscow, Monsignor Paolo Pezzi, stated that for the Russian Catholic community, this step is "very positive news" and "a continuity and a recognition of the work of the previous patriarch, Alexey II.The choice of the Patriarch "is also good for others," said the Archbishop and predicted that the new head of the Russian Orthodox Church will "increase efforts towards dialogue and communion among Christians."Kirill of Smolensk (Vladimir Gundyaev) was born in Leningrad on November 20, 1946, the son of an Orthodox priest. He studied theology in the same city and was ordained heiromonk in 1969, and Archimandrite in 1971.Between 1971 and 1974 he was the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches. In 1976 he was ordained bishop of Vyborg, and Archbishop of Smolensk in 1984, where he became Metropolitan in 1991.Since 1989 he was placed in charge of the external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church. www.zenit.org

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