On 15 March 2022 His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije, together with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops: Bishop of Srem kyr Vasilije and Bishop of Kruševac kyr David, as well as Bishop of Marča kyr Sava – head of the Cabinet of the Serbian Patriarch, received His Excellency Mr. Emanuele Giaufret, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, and his associates at the Patriarchal Palace in Belgrade.
A frank and honest conversation was about the current crisis, which shakes primarily the European continent and European nations, but also the entire world.
The interlocutors agreed that churches, religious communities and their leaders can play a beneficial role today, for they are committed to peace, dialogue and tolerance, and have the opportunity to contribute to overcoming the great problems facing today’s Europe.
Ambassador Giaufret expressed regret that some media are spreading differing misinformation regarding the conflicts in Ukraine, emphasizing that they are dangerous and can lead to new conflicts.
In that regard, Patriarch Porfirije stressed that the Serbian Orthodox Church does not identify herself in the qualifications set out in last week’s Resolution of the European Parliament, because they do not correspond to reality. The Church advocates for and works on peaceful and fruitful coexistence and cooperation of all peoples, and for her peace represents an imperative without alternative.
Ambassador Giaufret thanked the Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije for the compassion and solidarity he has shown towards the people of Ukraine, as well as the efforts made to restore peace.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church
