"The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) bears the same responsibility for the war in Ukraine as the secular authorities in Moscow," Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (pictured) said, Ukrainskaya Pravda reported.

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The religious leader of the Orthodox Christians stated during a forum in Lithuania: the ROC and the government of Russia are equally responsible for committing and justifying the crimes of which the peaceful population of Ukraine is the victim, including the abduction of children.

Bartholomew also noted that the Kremlin is using the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool to achieve its military goals.

"We must make every effort to counter the Moscow Patriarchate, which justifies violence," he added.

"Russian Patriarch Kirill stood firmly behind the Kremlin's aggression. He even tried to convince Pope Francis

Franciscus (in Latin: Franciscus PP.), until his election Jorge Mario Bergoglio - Pope of Rome from March 13 in the right of the invasion of Moscow, the newspaper recalled.

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Russian invasion of Ukraine

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