Moscow, Nov 04: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would meet Pope John II in the Vatican tomorrow in a bid to heal a breach between two ailing spiritual leaders: The Roman Catholic pontiff and the patriarch of the Russian orthodox church, Alexy II. "We have to contribute to the unification of Christianity despite the nuances which separate the various churches and confessions," Putin told Italian reporters ahead of the visit.

"In this context we very much hope to contribute to bringing together the positions of the Russian orthodox church and the holy see in Rome," Russian news agencies today quoted him as saying. The meeting with the Pope -- Putin's second following an earlier visit in June 2000 -- holds out little prospect of opening the way for the pope, now 83 and in failing health, to fulfil a long-cherished dream of visiting Russia.

He stressed that his mission was not to secure a visit by the Pope to Russia which "is not possible given the state of understanding between the two churches".

Bureau Report