” “Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, president of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, met in Moscow the Orthodox Patriarch Alexius II, just before moving to Saint Petersburg for the meeting of the Presidents of the Catholic Bishops Conferences of Europe (Ccee), which for the first time in their history will be meeting in Russia these days (until October 8th). In his visit to the Patriarchate of Moscow, card. Murphy-O’Connor expressed the wish that "better relations may be created between the English Catholic Church and your Church". He also expressed his support to the Patriarch’s idea of a necessary cooperation between Orthodox and Catholics for strengthening Christian values, especially "in a laicised Europe". Patriarch Alexius II highlighted the importance of cooperation in Europe, especially today, when religion is often left out of social life. Then, he noted that the Russian Orthodox Church appreciates the Pope’s words about the promotion of dialogue that Benedict Xvi has wished for since the beginning of his pontificate. Then, the Patriarch wished all the best to the Plenary Meeting of Ccee which today is going to address the issue of the religious situation in Russia.” “
