Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, have discussed the
problem of erosion of traditional Christian values in modern day Europe.
"We saw the face of Catholic France during protests against the law on
child adoption by same-sex couples," Patriarch Kirill said at their
meeting in the Catholic Archdiocese in Paris on Monday.
He expressed solidarity with the Roman Catholic Church on this issue and
thanked the archbishop of Paris for the firm stance on the issue of
same-sex "marriages". At the cardinal's exhortation, French Catholics
actively protested against the law legalizing same-sex unions and their
right to adopt children.
The Russian Church leader also thanked the cardinal for the support in
the construction of the St. Trinity Cathedral and the Russian Cultural
and Spiritual Center in the prestigious 7th arrondissement of the French
capital on Branly Embankment, not far from the Eiffel Tower.
Cardinal Vingt-Trois congratulated Patriarch Kirill on the Cathedral's
opening and consecration which was performed by the patriarch in front
of hundreds of parishioners, representatives from well-known Russian
emigre families and prominent artists.
"This is a testament to the good relations between our countries. The
Cathedral is the symbol of these good relations," Cardinal Vingt-Trois
said.