The Russian Orthodox Church is hoping that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will offer his assistance toward the solution of problems in the relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Vatican.
Berlusconi told his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kasyanov several days ago that he might meet with Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II to pave the way for the Pope of Rome's possible visit to Russia.
"The future of our relations depends on the Vatican. We hope that everyone interested in their positive development, including the Italian prime minister, will persuade the Vatican to take concrete steps towards resolving the aforesaid problems," spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told Interfax on Monday.
"The main obstacle for a meeting between His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and His Holiness Pope John Paul lies with unsettled problems between the two Churches. These are the oppressed position of Orthodox believers of the canonical Church in west Ukraine and Catholic proselytism amongst people christianized by the Orthodox Church in Russia and other CIS countries," he said.
"The Vatican knows perfectly well that only the solution of these problems can open the way to better relations," he said.
"Neither the return of one of the numerous icons that were taken from Russia nor the attempt to persuade us to change our position will open that door," Rev. Vsevolod stressed.
As for a possible meeting between the Italian prime minister and the Patriarch, the archpriest said that Berlusconi has not made an official request. "If he does make an official request, His Holiness Patriarch will certainly consider it," he said.