Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke to a top member of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) days after the pontiff made an intriguing but puzzling comment about the Vatican being involved in a mission to try to end the war in Ukraine.
Metropolitan (bishop) Anthony, effectively the ROC's number two, was given pride of place at Francis's general audience in St. Peter's Square and then was the first taken to greet the pope at the end. He spent longer chatting with Anthony than with others.
