Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill Embrace In Historic Meet

Heads of Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches met nearly after a millennium. The union was termed as a thaw in centuries-old strain in relations.

According to USA Today the churches parted ways after the Great Schism of 1054 when Christianity split. Besides differences in religious practices, the two churches have viewed each other with distrust in the past centuries. Relations however in recent years, attributed to among others, the growing persecution of Christians in Middle East and Africa.

The historic meeting was scheduled at the Marti International Airport in Havana, Cuba where Pope Francis will meet Patriarch Kirill, on his way to Mexico, BBC reports. Patriarch Kirill is known to be close to Vladimir Putin. His critics have termed his growing influence on Kremlin a prelude to unification of State and Church.

ABC News reports that the two religious leaders signed a 30-point declaration to work unitedly and protecting the religious from extremist persecution.

"Our gaze must firstly turn to those regions of the world where Christians are victims of persecution. In many countries of the Middle East and North Africa whole families, villages and cities of our brothers and sisters in Christ are being completely exterminated," the declaration reads.

The declaration also calls for action from the international community to help people of other religious faiths displaced and affected in crisis-torn countries like Iraq and Syria.

The document refers to the separation of Catholics and Orthodox Christians and notes that the meeting of two religious heads, unity between the two groups may be re-established.