The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has urged closer cooperation between different branches of Christianity, the Church reported on Friday.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia received in his residence in Moscow on Friday a delegation of the Roman Catholic Church from France and Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini.

“The churches that base their service on the apostolic tradition are called today to a closer interaction,” he said.

“Today we face the challenges of secularism,” the patriarch said. “We need to jointly address the challenges being guided by historic experience.”

Kirill also said there are new opportunities to develop bilateral ties as many Russian nationals live in Western Europe.

“We attach a very great significance to pastor work with the Russian-speaking diaspora in the West, as nothing can bring people from different social groups closer than a church parish,” he said.

MOSCOW, December 4 (RIA Novosti)