St. Petersburg, Jun. 1, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The top ecumenical-affairs official of the Russian Orthodox Church has cited progress in relations with the Vatican, a news conference in St. Petersburg that Pope Benedict XVI has an accurate understanding of the proper relations between the churches.
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk discouraged speculation about a papal visit to Moscow, saying that such a trip "is not on the agenda today." But he said that contacts between the Holy See and the Moscow patriarchate are producing positive results.
Rome and Moscow are in agreement that Christians must unite to protect the spiritual heritage of European culture, the Russian prelate said. That shared goal has allowed for greater practical cooperation between Catholics and Orthodox, he said.
Metropolitan Kirill said that a joint Orthodox-Catholic commission, set up to investigate complaints of "proselytism" by Catholics in Russia, has also made progress toward resolving that dispute. "But more vigorous steps could be taken," he said.