Hope not dashed” “

The hope of “turning over a fresh page” in relations with the Russian Orthodox Church “has not been dashed”. So said Cardinal WALTER KASPER , president of the Pontifical Council of Christian Unity, in an interview with the Russian Catholic weekly “Svet Evangelia” (The Light of the Gospel) following his meeting – behind closed doors – with the Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias Alexis II. The face to face between the Holy See’s representative and the Patriarch was the culmination of an important journey for the future of dialogue between the two Churches. with Kirill. Cardinal Kasper’s meeting with Patriarch Alexis II was preceded by the conversation that the Vatican representative had with the head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Metropolitan Kirill, on 19 February. During the meeting – says a statement released both by the Holy See and the patriarchate of Moscow – “the issues raised” in relations between the two Churches were examined. In particular, Cardinal Kasper “confirmed that the Holy See has received the written reply of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the possible establishment of a Greek-Catholic Patriarchate in the Ukraine, as well as the replies of all the local Orthodox Churches on the question” (see SIR no.13). The cardinal gave his assurance that “the unanimous position of the Orthodox Churches has been taken into serious consideration by the authorities of the Catholic Church”. It was agreed that “with a view to the solution of individual questions between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, a work group should be set up, composed of representatives of both Churches”. WITH ALEXIS II. Surrounded with uncertainty ever since the beginning of his visit, Cardinal Kasper’s planned meeting with the Patriarch was brought forward one day (Sunday 22) from its scheduled date. The cardinal began by delivering to the Patriarch – who celebrated his 75th birthday on 23 February – a personal message of good wishes from the Pope on his birthday. Then Alexis II – in a speech followed by the press – listed in a rather admonitory tone of voice the points of disagreement between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. At this point the journalists present were asked to leave the room and the meeting continued behind closed doors. To the Catholic weekly “Svet Evangelia” Cardinal Kasper later reported the problems reviewed during his meeting with the Patriarch. The first point of discussion was the problem of proselytism, with particular reference to the decision taken by the Holy See last year to raise the four apostolic administrations in the Russian Federation into a diocese. Kasper assured the Patriarch that “all the Catholic structures in Russia were re-established solely with the aim of promoting the pastoral care of Catholics” and that these decisions “have nothing to do with proselytism”. Regarding the creation of a Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate in the Ukraine, the cardinal said that “the Holy See will devote serious attention to evaluating the responses of the Orthodox Church”. The cardinal and the Patriarch then spoke of the wish expressed by the Patriarchate of Moscow to be kept informed of all the decisions taken by the Holy See regarding the Catholic Church in Russia. THE VOICE OF RUSSIAN CATHOLICS. “I think that Kasper’s meeting with Alexis II was especially one of clarification – explains VICTOR KHRUL, director of the information Service of the Russian Catholic Church –. The cardinal emerged from it with optimism and with the hope that the dialogue between Moscow and the Vatican could continue in the forms and in the activities begun before 1990″. Khrul regrets the fact that “journalists only had permission to follow Alexis II’s opening address, at the end of which they were asked to leave the room”. And he adds: “The fact that the Patriarch met the cardinal was in itself very positive. It was not a foregone conclusion that this meeting would take place. It means we can hope in a step forward in relations between the two Churches, even if we would like to know the price of this progress”. The “price to be paid – suggests Khrul – seems to include the decision to defer the creation of a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Patriarchate”. In the course of his meeting with Alexis – continues Khrul – “the cardinal defended Russian Catholics from the accusations of proselytism made by the Patriarchate, and clarified many specific cases”, such as that of the social work conducted by the Carmelite monastery of Novgorod. “I truly hope that there will be less misunderstanding between us after this meeting”.