The Holy Father used to say that the Churches in Russia, after coming out of the terrible oppression, have every right to definitively regulate their position. They cannot remain without shepherds.
The Patriarchate of Moscow was notified of this undertaking earlier. The Nuncio informed about the intention of the Holy See to create four dioceses, which, precisely in order to avoid irritation, were deliberately given the titles of cathedrals, and not the territorial names already used by the Orthodox Church. Perhaps, at first, the entire matter was not given too much importance and therefore the requests were adopted. There was no objection. It was only later, when the entire “plan” was seen, or perhaps as a result of internal protests, that the reaction was made in such a negative way. No one, I repeat, no one expected such a reaction!
And so, one by one, all the opportunities for the Pope’s meeting with patriarch Alexei II of Moscow were lost. The first time on the occasion of the Apostolic Journey to Hungary was in September 1996. The Hungarian Government itself, through its Ambassador to the Holy See, proposed this meeting in Pannonhalma. The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Patriarchate opposed it.
The second time, in 1997, the preparations for the meeting enjoyed almost official approval. (…) A place located halfway between Rome and Moscow was chosen – a Cistercian monastery located about 30 kilometers from Vienna. Everything was prepared for June 21st. At the last minute, Metropolitan Kirill announced that the meeting was not possible. Also this time there was opposition from the Synod.
The third time in 2003. During the flight to Mongolia, a plane with the Pope on board was to have a technical stopover in Kazan, on Russian territory, in order to hand over the icon of the Mother of God…
The Holy Father ardently wanted to go on pilgrimage to Russia. It was to express his desire for Christian unity and the purification of relations with the Orthodox Church, which had been on his heart for so long, which is why it was so important for him to be able to meet Alexios II.
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”.
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
