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_WORLD WATCH______________________________
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YUGOSLAVIA
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No papal visit yet
An Orthodox leader holds out
Patriarch Pavle, the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has indicated that “the timing is not opportune” for a papal visit to Belgrade.
Patriarch Pavle made his remark in answer to reporters’ questions after a meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksei II. Patriarch Aleksei has also resisted calls for a papal visit to Moscow. However—in a sign that lines to the Vatican are not completely closed —the two Orthodox leaders sent representatives to the January 24 inter-religious day of prayer at Assisi.
The Serbian Orthodox leader said that he had received several inquiries about the possibility of a visit to Belgrade by Pope John Paul II. Such a visit might eventually take place, he said, but he would not approve the Pope’s plans now.