ecumenism" "
Representing 90% of Russia’s believers, the Russian Orthodox Church is the “principal religion” and the “majority church” in the country. “For this reason I cannot fail to take it into consideration”. That’s how the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin replied to the Washington Post which had asked him why the Russian government has not yet invited John Paul II to Russia, in contrast to what other countries of the former Soviet Union had done: namely, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The interview was carried by the press agency of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the European institutions two days after President Putin’s visit to the Holy Father in the Vatican on 3 November. In the talks between the two the question of the situation of Catholics in Russia and their ecclesiastical structures was also touched on. “On both sides declared the director of the Vatican press room the hope was expressed for a positive development in dialogue between the Holy See and the Patriarchate of Moscow”. Speaking to the American daily, Putin explained the difficulties that were holding back the process of rapprochement between the two Churches; among these difficulties he emphasised in particular the question of the Catholic Church in the Ukraine and proselytism. “It would be a good thing Putin added if the two sister Churches, as they themselves call each other, were to succeed in overcoming their difficulties and misunderstandings and find a common language…it would be a very important step for Russia, in the direction of its integration in Western society”. “I hope said Putin that these steps be rapid and effective…. I have spoken about them with the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, but they are convinced that a series of questions first needs to be resolved and I must respect the position of the Russian Orthodox Church”.
