Patriarch Kirill called the priests the most desirable target for snipers

Snipers first of all aim at priests – they are “the most desirable target of the enemy.”

This was stated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill, calling for the same social guarantees for the priests as for military personnel, RIA Novosti writes.

“It seems overdue to fix in the legislation a provision on providing the clergy who take care of the soldiers in the combat zone, as well as their family members, with the same social guarantees and benefits that are provided to the military personnel involved in the conduct of the military defense,” the patriarch said.

He wondered why the priests, who, like the military, are on the front lines, do not have the guarantees that they have. The patriarch emphasized that the priests are called to help those who are at war – not with weapons, but spiritually.

According to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, the clergy are often on the very front line of the front and do not hide, although they are not protected by anything. “A priest with a cross goes forward when the belligerents go on the attack,” Kirill said.

Earlier, the patriarch said that general judgments should not be made with respect to Russians who left the country after the start of a special military operation. He believes that many of those who have left the country need spiritual help.