Is the Russian Orthodox Church prepared to welcome Pope Benedict XVI?

>>> “It is time to reap, not waste,” said Catholic Metropolitan of Moscow Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz

Considering the consolidation of the Reasonable these days, this coul be excellent news. Consider:

Eastern and Western Christians must face the same problems: aggressive secularism, consumerism, religious indifference, relativism, acts against life seen as God’s gift. These threats find a fertile ground in today’s vulnerable society, especially that of Russia that was weakened by three generations of political atheism. By going back to a common root, all this can be faced and words are finally being translated into concrete deeds.

Kondrusiewicz is confident that, despite its traditional anti-Catholic stance and its charges that the Catholic Church is proselytising in Russia and Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate will respond positively to the Pope’s invitation.

The best news is this:

For his part, the Patriarch of Moscow Aleksij II said he was open to a visit by Benedict XVI in Russia if the new Pope showed “strength of will, wisdom and tactfulness” vis-à-vis the Russian Orthodox Church and helped resolve outstanding issues.

A union of the two lungs of sacramental Christianity would boldly proclaim the Gospel. Think of the implications for the evangelization of culture that could occur. The Foolish need this now more than ever. The world needs this now more than ever.