Pope returns icon to Russia
Hopes for closer relations with Orthodox church
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- A Vatican delegation has returned a centuries-old Russian Orthodox icon to Russia's Orthodox patriarch in a special ceremony.
The Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, which has spent the last decade in Pope John Paul II's private apartment, was presented to Russian Patriarch Alexy II.
The handover symbolizes closer relations between two major strands of Christianity -- Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
But early reactions from the Orthodox suggested that the return of the icon had not resolved outstanding disputes between Roman Catholics and the Russian Orthodox Church.
In recent months, relations between the two Christian bodies have been clouded by Orthodox complaints that Catholics are trying to attract converts in Russia and are harassing the Orthodox in western Ukraine where Catholics are a majority. Catholics deny both claims.
The 12-by-10 inch icon handed over Saturday was once believed to be the original 1579 image of the Madonna of Kazan, believed by Russian Orthodox to have miracle-working powers. Later analysis, however, showed it to be a late 17th-early 18th century copy.
In Orthodox tradition, copies of famous icons often go on to be revered themselves.
The pope said Wednesday that the icon had "watched over his daily service to the church" since it was given to him by an American Catholic group in 1993.
He had hoped to bring the icon to Russia himself. Orthodox officials, however, have insisted their disputes must first be resolved.
No pope meeting yet
Again Saturday, Alexy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, told reporters that "the conditions do not yet exist" for a meeting with the pope.
Instead the icon was returned by German Cardinal Walter Kasper, a senior Vatican official, during a service at a Moscow cathedral. American Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., was also part of the Vatican delegation.
John Paul has sought better relations with the 200-million member Russian Orthodox Church throughout his 25-year pontificate, in part because he believes the Orthodox are natural allies in struggles to resist both Western secularism and the challenge of Islam.
In receiving the icon, the 75-year-old Alexy II thanked the pope but also issued a blunt call for more substantive moves.
"I hope this demonstrates a desire on the part of the Vatican to seriously return to an attitude of respect with regard to our church," he said.
Vatican spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls predicted that the Russian people would respond positively even if Orthodox officials do not.
"This was a gesture of the pope that arrived at the heart of the people," he said. "The consciousness of difficulties is strong, but this went around and over it."
John L. Allen Jr., correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, contributed to this report
