The Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, has sent a congratulatory message to Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, spiritual father of the Community of St. Egidio, on the occasion of his appointment as President of the Pontifical Council for the Family and elevation to the rank of archbishop. Below is the text of the message.

Deacon Anastasios Bendo is the secretary of the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, and works primarily as a translator and editor. In this interview he discusses the history of the Albanian Church, its current witness and struggles, and the nature of Christian marriage today.