Pope Francis meets with head of Patriarch Kirill in Havana

Pope Francis, right, leader of the Roman Catholic Church, meets with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Havana.

(Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images)

Feb. 12, 2016 12:09 PM PT

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met Friday in the wood-paneled VIP room at Havana’s Jose Martí International Airport. The split between their two churches goes back almost 1,000 years.

Pope Francis, center, talks with Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill during their historic meeting in Havana on Friday.

(Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

Patriarch Kirill, left, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, kisses Pope Francis as they meet at the Jose Marti Aiport in Havana on Friday.

(Ismael Francisco / Associated Press)

Pope Francis is welcomed by Cuban President Raul Castro at the Havana airport.

(Yamil Lage / AFP/Getty Images)

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill visits a memorial to Cuban independence hero Jose Marti in Havana.

(Desmond Boylan / Associated Press)

Pope Francis, right, and Patriarch Kirill pose for photos during their meeting in Havana.

(Ismael Francisco / Associated Press)

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, center, makes an offering at a memorial to Cuban independence hero Jose Marti in Havana.

(Desmond Boylan / Associated Press)

Patriarch Kirill, center left, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, meets with Cuban President Raul Castro, center right, at Revolution Palace in Havana.

(Ismael Francisco / Associated Press)

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Pope Francis meets with head of Patriarch Kirill in Havana

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