MOSCOW, Feb 20, 03 (CWNews.com) - Russian's foreign minister has high hopes for an improvement in relations between his government and the Holy See.
Igor Ivanov has told the Italian daily Correire della Sera that he expects «concrete steps» toward improved relations in the course of this year. Vatican officials have reserved comment on the question.
«The Russian government maintains normal and constructive relations with the Vatican,» Ivanov told Correire della Sera. Although those relations have been severely tested in the past year, because of Russia's expulsion of several Catholic priests, the Russian foreign minister said that he could foresee significant progress «in the coming months.»
Correire della Sera had asked Ivanov about the possibility of a papal visit to Moscow-- a possibility that Russia's ambassador to the Holy See, Vitaly Litvine, had said was «necessary.» Without responding directly, the Russian minister said, «We are now in discussions with the new apostolic nuncio, to see what actions could be taken to maintain a constructive dialogue.»
Ivanov acknowledge the «divergence» between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox hierarchy. But he said, «with good will on both sides, these can be overcome.»
At the Vatican, one informed official cautioned against becoming overly optimistic in response to the Russian statement. «This isn't the first time that such statements have been made by the Russian government,» he observed. Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, noted that the primary opposition to closer ties comes not from the Russian government, but from the Orthodox Church. «It is the Moscow Patriarchate, above all, that has to take 'concrete steps,'» he said.
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20. februar 2003