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


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2005VATICA00487 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED