ROME — Pope Francis is viewed by many European liberals as the greatest moral voice against the resurgence in populism and the demonization of migrants.
But
for many European nationalists, anti-migration politicians and
opponents of gay rights, the real spiritual strongman of their movement
is the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, their alternate pope.
So when Mr. Putin visited the Vatican on Thursday, it was more than a
mere meeting — their third — between the two men. Rather it was a
tête-à-tête between the standard bearers of competing views of
Christianity on the European continent as ideological polarization between nationalists and liberals cleaves the West.
The men exchanged gifts, and also what the Vatican later described as
‘‘cordial’’ conversation on “questions of relevance to the life of the
Catholic Church in Russia,” ecological issues, and the political
situation in Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela.
For Mr. Putin, the meeting was a way to burnish his reputation as a
global leader. For Francis, Mr. Putin’s cooperation is essential for the
protection of Christians in the Middle East, where Russia is active.
The pope is also pursuing unity, or at least better relations, with the
Russian Orthodox Church.
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