Kasper in Moscow: Russian Catholics' hopes and expectations
Moscow (AsiaNews) Yesterday was the first day of Cardinal Walter Kasper's visit to Moscow. The cardinal is the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Sent by the Russian Bishops' Conference, Kasper stated on his arrival to the Russian capital that his visit "expresses (his) esteem for the Russian Orthodox Church, its tradition and rich spiritual heritage."
During his visit, which ends of Feb. 20, Kasper will have an audience with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. He will also meet with Kirill, the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad and president of the Moscow patriarchate's Department of External Church Relations.
Speaking with journalists as he arrived in Moscow, Card. Kasper expressed his wishes that his visit would lead to dialog between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. "We want to establishment ties of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church to promote peace throughout the world. We don't want polemics, but friendship and especially collaboration with them; both the Catholic and Orthodox Church have the same human and Christian values and we want to work together for the good of Europe."
Below Viktor Krul', journalist and editor in chief of Svet Evanghelia (a Catholic weekly of the Moscow diocese) answers questions put to him by AsiaNews.
Dr. Krul', what do you think of Card. Kasper's visit?
We know that in Russia we have problems with Orthodox and to resolve them means meetings and comparisons. If there is no chance to discuss our differences, our problems will never go away. Card. Kasper's visit is very important, since both parties are talking again. Moreover, we hope and pray that Card. Kasper can report to the Vatican what the Catholic Church in Russia is really like.
What do Catholics expect to result from his visit?
We ultimately expect harmony and reconciliation with the Orthodox Church. Yet we also point out that the expulsion of Catholic priests from Russia still represents a major stumbling block on this (ecumenical) journey. We hope that at the end of Card. Kasper's trip the word "proselytism" will never be uttered again in reference to the activities of the Catholic Church.
Could these be positive signs for Catholics living in Russia?
We don't know. We can't predict what the cardinal's visit will bring for our Church. The consequences might be for the better or for the worse. We certainly hope for the better. We are fully aware that Catholic parish activities are quite conditioned by the attitudes of Orthodox bishops especially in the provinces where they forbid the building of new churches for Catholics and hamper our charitable works.
Could Card. Kasper's visit lead to something new regarding this issue?
I would like to take a photo of his audience with Patriarch Alexy II in order to show Orthodox bishops that their patriarch has met with a Catholic cardinal, to make them understand that Catholics aren't so wicked."
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05/01/2018 19:40
