MOSCOW, December 28 (Itar-Tass) – Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia said the Moscow Patriarchate expects Vatican to take concrete steps towards settling disagreements between the two major Christian churches.
In an interview with the BBC Russian Service on Wednesday, Alexy II said, “Now it is early to speak about concrete progress in relations. We laud the statements by the new pontiff who calls for continuing a dialogue. We hope that actions will follow words.”
“What we should meet for in order to show the world that we have no problems? But we have problems too. First it is necessary to overcome problems and then meet. We should solve problems that arouse concern in the Russian Orthodox Church and its flock,” the patriarch explained.
He condemned continuing proselytism by Catholics in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. “People, especially children, who are baptised as Orthodox Christians are being tried to catholicise. Many Catholics missioners in Russia create children boarding schools, place kids baptised in the Orthodox Church and teach them as Catholics,” Alexy II said.
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