Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI has praised the inter-faith dialogue initiatives of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexis II, who has long been at odds with alleged attempts by the Vatican to win converts in traditionally Orthodox territories. The remarks were contained in a letter written by Benedict to Alexis and published by the Vatican on Friday, a day after it was delivered to the patriarch in Moscow by the head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper.
Benedict said he wished to "express his esteem" to Alexis for his "ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church" and "commitment to fostering relations between Catholics and Orthodox".
"It is with joy that I reflect on the experience of growing closeness between us, accompanied by the shared desire to promote authentic Christian values and to witness to Our Lord in ever deeper communion," Benedict wrote in the letter.
Benedict's predecessor, the late John Paul II failed to fulfil a desire to visit Russia before his death in 2005, largely because of opposition by Alexis and the Russian Orthodox clergy.
However, Benedict in his letter referred to recent signals that relations between the two churches were improving.
The pontiff mentioned his "gratitude" for the patriarch's recent visit to France where he met with Catholic clerics and the "warm welcome" given by Alexis to the Catholic Archbishop of Moscow during the 2007 Christmas celebrations.
"Another sign of fraternity and friendship towards the Catholic Church" was the invitation extended to Kasper by another top Russian Orthodox cleric, Kirill, the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.
During his visit to Russia, Kasper was also scheduled to visit Kazan, in Tatarstan, to venerate an icon portraying Jesus' mother Mary, whose return to the Russian Orthodox Church, John Paul II ordered in 2004 as a sign of goodwill.
Kasper's visit to Kazan also offered the Vatican official an "opportunity for encounter with Muslims" Benedict said, noting how those who followed the Islamic faith shared with Catholics and Orthodox Christians a great respect" for Mary.
