The Vatican is exploring the possibility of extending Pope Francis' June visit to Lebanon so he can fly to Jerusalem to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, two sources told Reuters on Monday.
Kirill, 75, gave his full blessing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a stance that has torn apart the world's Orthodox Church and sparked what theologians and scholars say is an unprecedented internal rebellion.
The 85-year-old pontiff will be in Lebanon from June 12 to 13 and is scheduled to fly to Amman, Jordan on the morning of June 14, sources said on condition of anonymity.
From there, he will board a helicopter from there on the same day to meet Kirill in Jerusalem, from where he will return to Rome, the source said.