_WORLD WATCH______________________________
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Signs of a thaw
New talk of papal visit to Moscow
The Russian ambassador to the Holy See has indicated that the obstacles to a visit by Pope John Paul II to Moscow are fading, and “we won’t have to wait much longer before that visit takes place.”

Ambassador Vitaly Litvin pointed out that the events of September 11 have shocked the international community, and that Russians in particular have been reminded of the importance of unity. A papal visit would be an important signal for such unity, he said.

Although Pope John Paul has made no secret of his anxious desire to visit Russia, to date the possibility of such a papal trip has been stymied by the adamant opposition of the Russian Orthodox leadership. The ambassador acknowledged that the Russian government would not act alone in inviting the Pontiff, since “the Orthodox Church is a factor in the stability and cohesion of Russian society, and for that reason the state cannot afford to ignore the Church’s interests and concerns.” While he emphasized that he is not responsible for relations between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church, Litvin said that he foresees a resolution to the Orthodox complaints about Catholic “proselytism.”

And as the new year began, there were distinct signs of a thaw in the attitude of the Moscow Patriarchate. Bishop Josef Homeyer, the president of the Commission of European Bishops’ Conferences, met with Patriarch Aleksei on January 9, and reported a cordial conversation with the Orthodox leader. Bishop Homeyer explained to a Vatican Radio audience that the purpose of his trip to Moscow was to pursue new ecumenical contacts with the Russian Orthodox Church.

On January 1, a Russian Orthodox choir had performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, with the explicit approval of Patriarch Aleksei. The Pope responded by offering his best wishes to the Orthodox leader—and pointedly remarking that he hoped to meet him soon.

On Christmas Eve, a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate made an appearance before a midnight Mass offered by the Catholic Archbishop, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. After delivering the greetings of the Orthodox Church, he was warmly applauded by the Catholic congregation. And on Christmas Day Archbishop Kondrusiewicz was featured on a popular radio broadcast, “Echo of Moscow.” The archbishop said that a meeting between the Pope and the Orthodox Patriarch is now “necessary and vital.” Polls taken in Moscow indicated that 75 percent of the city’s people hoped to see such a meeting take place.

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