Pope francis makes history as he meets russian orthodox church leader

I'm not aware of any specific information about Pope Francis meeting with the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. However, I can provide some general information about the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church have a complex and often tumultuous history. The two churches were united under a single patriarch in the early Christian centuries, but they split in the 11th century due to theological and political differences. Since then, they have had limited communication and cooperation.

In recent years, there have been efforts to improve relations between the two churches. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow signed a joint declaration calling for greater cooperation and dialogue. Since then, there have been several high-level meetings between Catholic and Orthodox leaders, including a meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in 2016.

During their meeting, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill signed a joint declaration calling for greater cooperation and dialogue between the two churches. They also discussed issues such as the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and the importance of protecting the environment.

It's worth noting that the Russian Orthodox Church has been criticized for its close ties to the Russian government and its support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some have accused the church of being complicit in Putin's efforts to suppress dissent and opposition in Russia.

Overall, while there have been efforts to improve relations between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, there are still significant differences and challenges to overcome.