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Patriarch Kirill said it appeared as if political correctness has risen as a force to limit Christians’ freedom to practice their faith, under the pretence of integration. Speaking to RT, the Orthodox leader said: “Multiculturalism has no future, because it implies different cultures mixing, different cultures and religions poured together and shaken vigorously to create a kind of cocktail. “That would be impossible because of deep-rooted traditions. “If multiculturalism implies weakening people’s connection to their religion and traditions, it automatically makes them victims of discrimination and forces them to be defensive; so this very approach contains a dangerous source of division, and I mean the fundamental division of the brother-against-brother kind.”

GETTY Patriarch Kirill said multiculturalism creates a dangerous cocktail

Russia's leading religious leader, 70, also suggested calls for Europeans to not offend Muslims was sparking cultural clashes as Western leaders were unwittingly pinning citizens from different backgrounds against each other. The Patriarch of Moscow said Muslims the Orthodox Church had spoken with did not object to Christians celebrating religious holidays, such as Christmas. He said: “It seems as if political correctness is meant to limit Christians’ freedom to practice their faith. “For example, why should we use ‘X-mas’ instead of ‘Christmas’? The answer we got to this question is that we shouldn’t hurt the feelings of non-Christians.

RT The Orthodox leader also hailed Donald Trump as a beacon of hope for Russia

Multiculturalism implies weakening people’s connection to their religion and traditions Patriarch Kirill

“So we asked Muslims if they were offended by the word ‘Christmas’, and they said 'no'. We asked if they were offended by decorated Christmas trees in the streets, and they said 'no'. “So if Muslims are okay with that, whose feelings are we hurting here? It’s likely it’s no one’s.” Political correctness encouraged by western politicians is also discriminating against Christians, Patriarch Kirill added. The Orthodox leader continued: “So if Europe is now cutting itself off from its roots, it raises the question of whether this is motivated by political correctness or something else.

“So we’re very wary when, under the guise of political correctness and universal rights and liberties, we glimpse signs of discrimination against the people who want to be open about their Christian convictions.” Adding that Russia was an example for the rest of the world to follow, Patriarch Kirill said: “Russia is a multiethnic country, but the idea of multiculturalism has never been promoted. “This approach, which allows people to express their ethnic and religious identity freely, has especially flourished recently, in modern Russia. “We’re not talking about any mixture or cocktail – we say that every person should stay who they are. But we all live in the same country, so all of us must observe the law and be nice to each other.”

GETTY Donald Trump has vowed to improve relations with Vladimir Putin

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