VATICAN CITY (AP) - The pope named a new envoy to Russia on Wednesday, seeking to cool tensions linked to what the Vatican has called attempts to weaken the Roman Catholic Church in the mainly Orthodox country.
Archbishop Antonio Mennini, a 55-year-old Italian serving as Vatican ambassador to Bulgaria, was given the Moscow post. He succeeds Archbishop Giorgio Zur, who was recently transferred to Austria.
Mennini helped arrange Pope John Paul II's visit in May to Bulgaria, like Russia a predominantly Orthodox country.
The pope has been prevented from visiting Russia by the Orthodox Church leadership in Moscow, which has accused the Vatican pursuing an "expansionist tragedy" in traditionally Orthodox lands.
The Vatican has been angered by the expulsion of five foreign-born Catholic priests, pointing out that actions on visas are carried out by the government, not the Orthodox Church.
With an estimated flock of 600,000, Catholics are a tiny minority in Russia.