The Pontiff greeted Vladimir Putin in Russian at the library of his private quarters at the Apostolic Palace.
The Russian President and the Pope discussed international interaction and noted the similarity of their positions on the main problems, including the situation around Iraq.
They also discussed the development of the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Vladimir Putin assured Pope John Paul II that the Russian secular authorities were exerting every effort to strengthen mutual understanding between various religions inside the country and expressed hope that inter-religious cooperation would broaden. The Pontiff thanked the President for contributing to the process of bringing the two Christian churches closer together.
During the talk the Russian leader told the Pope that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intended to meet Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia during his upcoming visit to Moscow. The President conveyed to the Pope oral greetings from the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and presented him with a box with a picture of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. In response Pope Joan Paul II gave Vladimir Putin a large medallion-icon of “The Madonna and Child” and conveyed the best wishes to Alexii II and all the bishops of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The President congratulated Pope John Paul, originally Carol Wojtyla, on the 25th anniversary of his papacy and wished him good health and success in his noble and arduous mission.
Normally audiences with the Pope last no more than 15 minutes. But the meeting with Vladimir Putin lasted more than 40 minutes. Pope John Paul II had not made any welcoming statements for some time and the fact that he did so on this occasion and in Russian shows that the Pontiff seeks to develop contacts.
After the meeting the Russian head of state telephoned Patriarch Alexii II of Moscow and All Russia and told him about the results of the meeting. The President and the Patriarch agreed to meet after Vladimir Putin’s return to Moscow.