Pope John Paul II's appeal to Ukraine's Orthodox Christians for forgiveness for "errors" made by Catholics was a "good sign" for future relations, a top Russian Orthodox church spokesman said.
"We see this apology as a good sign, but it must also be followed by an attempt to open a direct, honest dialogue with us," said Father Arseny Sokolov, a Russian Orthodox church spokesman responsible for relations with the Catholic church.
"The most important thing that we lack right now is honesty in our relations," Fr Sokolov said. "It would be good if this appeal for forgiveness was followed up by concrete action.
"We hope that this is not just a public relations statement made before the television cameras," he said. "As for Russia, we demand the end of proselytization in regards to our people."
Fr Sokolov added, however, that relations between the two churches had not improved markedly so far.
"Unfortunately, the pope's call for forgiveness has not been supported by real deeds yet," he said.
Upon his controversial arrival to the predominantly Orthodox Ukraine yesterday, Pope John Paul II appealed to Orthodox Christians to forgive Catholic "errors," but also rejected charges that his church was out to convert the local population.
"I have not come here with the intention to proselytize, but as a witness for Christ, together with all the Christians of the whole church and ecclesiastical community," the Pope added, speaking in Ukrainian.
The pontiff sought to defuse militant opposition to his visit by appealing to the Orthodox to forgive "the errors committed towards them in the ancient and recent past," in reference to the sack of Byzantium by crusaders in 1204, and the interfaith disputes of the 1990s.
AFP