In an interview in TASS on Jan. 7, the day the Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia encouraged religious leaders to step forward and guide the world toward peace and reconciliation:
“If we talk about some ways and means to overcome this [Gaza] conflict and to reconcile people in general, I believe that it is necessary to actively involve religious leaders: the respected Muslim leaders, as well as Jewish and Christian leaders. Because if some unanimity will be achieved among the leaders and the shepherds of these groups in regards to what and how should be done for [the] preservation of peace, then this unanimity could be implemented in political concepts and will influence the prevention of further military escalation.”
