Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on December 3, 2009 during his brief visit to Italy, the Kremlin said today.
Medvedev's talks with the Pope could help in mending ties between the Roman Catholic Church and Russian Orthodox Church.
The late Russian Patriarch Alexi II refused to meet with the then Pope John Paul II, and called for resolving disputes between the two churches.
Earlier this year, Medvedev had spoken about plans to improve ties with the Vatican, which have been strained in recent years over the Orthodox Church's displeasure at the Roman Catholic Church's missionary activities and conversions in Russia.
New Russian Patriarch Kiril, who succeeded Alexi II earlier this year, is considered to be a liberal in the predominantly conservative Russian Orthodox Church, and is reported to be eager to mend relations with the Vatican.
A meeting between Patriarch Kiril and Pope Benedict XVI is expected to occur in 2010, because of the friendly ecclesiastical interaction that has prevailed between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Vatican in recent months.
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