15 Mar 2013 14:20

Patriarch Kirill concerned by shrinking Christian population in Palestinian Territories

MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has said that he is troubled by a decline in the Christian population in the Palestinian Territories.

"Christians are leaving your country due to the externally induced circumstances facing the Palestinian Territories," the patriarch said at a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow on Friday.

Although Christians are not leaving the Palestinian Territories en masse, "their percentage is decreasing," he said.