Pope Francis Congratulated Putin on His Election Victory, Russian State Media Claims

Pope Francis has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, according to a Russian state media report Sunday.

While many Western governments and leaders condemned the Russian election as a sham involving no meaningful opposition, Leonid Sevastyanov, the head of the World Union of Old Believers, claims the pontiff thought it was worth congratulating Putin on his new six-year term, according to RIA Novosti. “The Pope congratulates Vladimir Putin on his election as President of the Russian Federation,” Sevastyanov, who is reportedly in contact with Pope Francis, was quoted as saying.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Vatican for comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.