16 October 2003 14:52
Putin congratulates Pope on 25th anniversary as pontiff
Vladimir Putin congratulated the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul the Second, on the 25th anniversary his papacy, the presidential press service reported on Thursday.
The telegram from the Russian President reads: "Your tireless activity for the sake of peace and justice, in the interests of the consolidation of human values is highly rated by the international community. I am sure that the further development of Russian-Vatican relations, a positive dynamics of the political dialogue between Russia and Vatican on the basis of the closeness of our approaches to the present key-issues will continue to contribute to the further formation of just peace, based on the ideals of solidarity and humanism.
"I hope to discuss with you the prospects of bilateral contacts and cooperation between Russia and Vatican in international affairs at our forthcoming meeting in November. "I wish you, Your Holiness, good health and success in your noble and laborious mission."
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