” “The Plenary assembly of Ccee that ended yesterday, October 8th, in Saint Petersburg, "discussed topics that are not just relevant to Christians but to the civilian bodies and the men of good will of the continent as well". This was written by the outgoing president of Ccee, mgr. Amédée Grab, in a message of good wishes sent to the Russian President Vladimir Putin for his 54th birthday, on 7th October. "Following the invitations of Pope Benedict XVI and the Patriarch Alexius II, we have learnt with great interest of the religious situation in Russia and the position of the Catholic Church, and we have listened to the delegates of the Orthodox and Lutheran Churches and those of the law-making and executive powers of Saint Petersburg", goes on the letter sent by mgr. Grab. According to the prelate, "the aspiration of the powers of the Russian state to strengthen equal relations between different denominations, to carry out democratic changes in the country and to pay attention to the needs of the faithful, will promote the influence of the spiritual leaders on Russian society with a view to the common good". Hence, to Putin, "who is responsible for the spiritual development of the nation", the best wish of all the European Bishops "for his plans and his work"” “
