MOSCOW, April 21, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday 
hailed the late Pope Francis as a "defender" of "humanism and justice", and 
praised his efforts to promote dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic 
churches.

Putin praised "wise" Pope Francis who died Monday as a "consistent defender 
of the high values of humanism and justice," in a letter to the Vatican 
published by the Kremlin, adding he had "actively promoted dialogue between 
the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches."