Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church sends a congratulatory message to the new German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia congratulated Angela Merkel on her election as Federal Chancellor of the Federative Republic of Germany.

The text of the congratulatory message is given below:

Your Excellency, Esteemed Ms. Angela Merkel,

Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your election to the lofty post of Federal Chancellor.

I hope that your work in this office will be crowned with good successes for the benefit of the German people and will help establish peace and prosperity in Europe and all the continents. It is my conviction that the public activity inspired by Christian ideals is demanded today as never before by people facing the various challenges of the modern world.

I hope for the preservation and development of traditionally good relations between the German people and the Russian Orthodox Church which traditionally has friendly feelings towards them and has maintained cooperation with Churches in Germany for many decades.

I sincerely wish you good health, prosperity and God’s help in your work ahead.

Respectfully,

+ ALEXY,
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA