The meeting was attended by Italian Consul General Gabriele Papadia de Bottini, and Apostolic Nuncio in Russia Archbishop Celestino Migliore, as well as Rev. Alexy Dikarev, DECR, and the CMI public relations director, M. Palacio.
Metropolitan Hilarion welcomed the guests, saying in particular, ‘You are in the largest country and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I am very delighted to offer you an opportunity to see the life of Moscow and the life of our Church’.
In his address to the Italian student, Metropolitan Hilarion also introduced them to the history of the Russian Orthodox Church.