Moscow Patriarchate officials have reported significant progress in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, writes Jonathan Luxmoore. "The level of dialogue between our Churches is a lot more satisfactory now than a few years ago. We've begun to reach understandings on issues that previously divided us," said Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate's external relations department. "We've understood that no temptation or blackmail by force, money or greed can divide the religious map of eastern Europe," he added, in an apparent reference to the issue of alleged Catholic proselytism that has dogged inter-Church talks. The priest was speaking after last Saturday's installation of Archbishop Paolo Pezzi as head of Russia's Moscow-based Catholic archdiocese of the Mother of God. The department's head, Metropolitan Kirill, said last week that a meeting between Patriarch Alexei and Pope Benedict had become "maybe even more real".


