Pope John Paul II urged Russia to guarantee religious freedom for Roman Catholics in a speech to foreign diplomats Monday, denouncing Moscow's expulsion of foreign-born priests.
Speaking out for the first time on yearlong tensions between Moscow and the Vatican, John Paul said that the plight of Russian Catholics "is a cause of great suffering for me."
"The Holy See expects from the government authorities concrete decisions which will put an end to the crisis, and which are in keeping with the international agreements subscribed to by the modern and democratic Russia," the pope said.
"Russian Catholics wish to live as their brethren do in the rest of the world, enjoying the same freedom and the same dignity," he told the diplomats assembled in the frescoed Sala Regia for his annual message.
Tensions between the Vatican and Moscow have increased following John Paul's visits to former Soviet republics and the Vatican's decision to upgrade its presence in Russia by creating full dioceses.
The Orthodox Church has accused the Vatican of poaching on traditional Orthodox territory. Moscow's Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II charged the Vatican was following an "expansionist strategy."
Orthodox and government officials in Moscow sought to play down the pope's concerns.
"The Vatican is trying to make it look like there is total persecution of Catholics in Russia based on individual cases of visa denials, something every country has the right to do," the Rev. Vsevolod Chaplin, spokesman for the Orthodox Church, told the Interfax news agency.
Alexei Volin, deputy chief of staff of the Russian Cabinet, told Echo of Moscow radio that "Catholics have never told the government that they do not have enough shepherds," according to Interfax.
Vatican officials have held the government responsible for the expulsion of five foreign-born Catholic clerics, and John Paul underlined that in his remarks.
The Vatican has sought the help of the United States and other governments in resolving the crisis with Moscow. The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, James Nicholson, said President Bush raised the issue directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The pope also told the diplomats he is speaking on behalf of all Christians who "from Asia to Europe continue to be victims of violence and intolerance."
"Ecumenical dialogue between Christians and respectful contact with other religions, in particular with Islam, are the best remedy for sectarian rifts, fanaticism or religious terrorism," the pope said.