HOLY SEE AND RUSSIA FLIRTING WITH DIPLOMATIC UPGRADE

UNCLAS VATICAN 000487 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN); EUR/RUS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KIRF RS VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE AND RUSSIA FLIRTING WITH DIPLOMATIC UPGRADE REF: A) MOSCOW 5589; B) MOSCOW 1905 ¶1. (U) Russian FM Sergei Lavrov's June 7 visit to the Vatican sparked renewed speculation upgrading the status of their diplomatic relations. A statement issued by the Holy See's press office said Lavrov, Vatican Secretary of State Sodano, and FM Lajolo discussed the "cordial" bilateral relationship and "the possibility of further developments." Russia's ambassador at the Vatican acts as the special representative of the Russian Federation, and the mission has, in Holy See terms, "a special character." Significantly, FM Lavrov invited his Vatican counterpart, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, to visit Moscow in the fall to continue discussions about possible upgrading of relations. ¶2. (U) In the aftermath of the Lavrov visit, Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II expressed rare optimism about prospects for dialogue with the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly spoken of the importance of Christian Unity, and the need for both parties to take "concrete steps" to improve relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The Holy See's President of the Council for Social Communications, Archbishop John Foley, visited Moscow this spring at the invitation of the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church, opening yet another avenue of official contact and dialogue. ¶3. (U) The Vatican's ecumenical dialogue chief, Cardinal Walter Kasper, was in Moscow June 20-23 for talks with his Russian Orthodox counterpart, Metropolitan Kirill. Kasper said that his discussions focused on what the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church could do together "in Europe and for Europe, to support Christian values." He said the two parties were trying to continue and "perhaps deepen" their dialogue. Kirill had earlier met with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome last April when the Metropolitan was in town for the pope's inauguration. Kasper said Kirill and the pope decided to continue the dialogue about the principle problems in the Orthodox-Catholic relationship. The June series of meetings follow Cardinal Kasper's successful visit to Moscow in 2004, in which he met with Patriarch Alexy and the two struck a publicly positive tone. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: As ref (a) makes clear, the Russian Orthodox Church is not likely to ease up on its demands for an end to so-called proselytizing in Orthodox territory. Nevertheless, closer "state to state" ties would strengthen the Russian government's ability to mediate differences and encourage the Russian Orthodox Church to expand its dialogue with the Holy See. The Holy See, for its part, sees President Putin's good rapport with Patriarch Alexy II as an avenue to ease tension between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox over allegations of proselytism. A papal visit to Moscow by Pope Benedict XVI - who poses less of a threat to the Orthodox than his Polish predecessor - would be a prize for both Putin and the Holy See. Patriarch Alexy's recent overtures to the Vatican on cooperation to defend Christian values in Europe, and his admission that he shared similar views to Pope Benedict also augur well for the easing of ecumenical tensions between the two churches. End comment. HARDT NNNN 2005VATICA00487 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED