Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches May Unite

The Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches have held several high-level talks in recent months to lay the groundwork for a historic meeting of their two leaders that could result in uniting the two churches.



Archbishop Hilarion, who heads the Russian Orthodox Church's foreign relations department, said that both sides wanted a meeting.

In an interview with the "Telegraph" of England, Hilarion spoke of a rapprochement under Pope Benedict XVI that would allow for a meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kiril.

Hilarion said that there have been "noticeable improvements" in relations between the two churches in recent years. He added that significant progress began after Benedict XVI became pope.

The Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches have been in existence since 1054 when the Great Schism occurred. The Great Schism split the Christian Church into two major divisions -- the Roman Catholic Church with headquarters in Rome, and the Eastern Orthodox Church with headquarters in Constantinople.