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The prayer service, known as a penitential rite and required by Canon law, was led by the basilica's archpriest, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti.

But late last month an archpriest and head of the Moscow Patriarchate's expert council on church art, architecture and restoration was fired "in connection with the obstruction of bringing the icon" to the cathedral.

Asked about those who threatened the cathedral’s artworks, Roman Kravchyk, the archpriest, fingered the jeweled crucifix around his neck and muttered, “May God have mercy on their souls.”

The archpriest said Kirill “preaches the doctrine of the ‘Russian world,’” defined as “a single civilizational space, covering territories on which Russian culture has historically had a significant impact.”

After resigning in 2002, he moved to Italy to serve as archpriest at the papal basilica of Saint Mary Major in 2004.