(RNS) Metropolitan Kirill, interim head of the Russian Orthodox Church since the death of Patriarch Alexy II last month, was elected to the permanent position on Tuesday (Jan. 27).

Kirill, 62, will be formally enthroned in Moscow next Monday.

An overwhelming majority of about 700 clergy and lay representatives from more than 60 countries voted for Kirill in Tuesday’s election.

“I accept and thank the local Church Council for my election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,” Kirill said.

As patriarch, he will lead the world’s largest branch of Orthodox Christianity, estimated to exceed 100 million members. He has a reputation as a modernizer who is more likely to work with the Catholic Church to address common concerns than his 79-year-old predecessor, who distrusted the Vatican.

Patriarch Alexy, who led his church into a post-Soviet revival during his 18-year tenure, prevented Pope John Paul II from visiting Russia and accused Catholics of trying to convert his members, who were vulnerable after decades of state-sponsored atheism.

Kirill handled the Moscow Patriarchate’s external relations for nearly 20 years and has met with Pope Benedict XVI several times.

In a telegram Wednesday, Benedict congratulated Kirill, and assured him of cooperation on achieving peace, justice and care for the poor. The pope also praised the new patriarch’s “efforts to maintain communion among the Orthodox Churches and to seek that fullness of communion which is the goal of Catholic-Orthodox collaboration and dialogue.”

The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches split in the 11th century.

The Moscow Patriarchate withdrew in 2007 and did not attend last year’s Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, but its objections concerned the participation of Estonia’s patriarchate, which it does not recognize. The Moscow Patriarchate has not yet indicated whether it will return to the group this year.