The Russian Orthodox Church denies claims that a meeting between Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II and Pope John Paul II is being prepared for next summer in Poland.
Roman Catholic Primate of Poland Cardinal Jozef Glemp said on Sunday that the meeting was possible. He remarked that the pontiff would visit Poland next summer, and Patriarch Alexy II might be invited there, as well.
"Obviously, there is no agreement to the effect. A meeting of the patriarch and the pope does not depend on their visits to one and the same country at one and the same time. This is a matter of principle," Orthodox Church spokesman Rev. Mikhail Dudko told Interfax on Monday.
"Many issues are matters of principle for the Moscow Patriarchate, and important decisions, such as a meeting between the patriarch and the pope, depend on moves by the Catholics," he said.
The patriarch has said that the oppression of Orthodox believers by Greek Catholics in Ukraine, the conversion of Orthodox believers to Catholicism, or proselytism by Catholics on the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church are issues dividing the two churches.
"If these essential problems are solved, a meeting between the patriarch and the pope will be put on the agenda. If not, the mere coincidence of time of their visits will not be a reason to meet," Rev. Mikhail said.
The Orthodox Church's acting secretary for inter-Christian relations Rev. Igor Vyzhanov told Interfax that he knew nothing about a possible visit of the patriarch to Poland.