PATRIARCH GRATEFUL FOR PUTIN'S RESTRAINT.
Patriarch
of Moscow and All Russia Aleksii II told reporters on 7 June that he is highly
appreciative of President Putin’s understanding of the problems in the
relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican, ITAR-TASS
reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 6 June 2000). Alexii said "an
invitation to the Pope, who is both the head of state and head of a church, to visit
Moscow should also be made by Moscow’s Patriarch" as well as by the head
of the Russian state. Aleksii charged that the Catholic Church is trying to
"expand [its influence] into Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and
Ukraine." A new round of talks between the two Churches is scheduled for
next fall, at which time the issue of Catholic proselytism in Russian and
Western Ukraine will be raised. JAC