by Michel Viatteau
MOSCOW, Aug 28 (AFP) - The Vatican returned a much-venerated icon to the Russian Orthodox Church on Saturday in a symbolic gesture by Pope John Paul II aimed at easing strained Orthodox-Roman Catholic relations.
The handover ceremony for the 18th century icon "Our Lady of Kazan" -- delivered by papal envoy Cardinal Walter Kasper -- was marked by a feeling of hope that centuries of prickly relations were gradually being overcome.
But after a resplendent service at a cathedral inside the Kremlin walls, the head of the Russian church, Patriarch Alexy II, reaffirmed that the time was not yet right for the pope to realise his long-standing dream of visiting Russia.
"For the time being, conditions for a papal visit to Russia are not right," he said.
The 84-year-old pope has long wanted to visit Russia as part of his goal of forging a rapprochement between the churches of the East and West, but that goal has been held up by a row over Orthodox accusations the Vatican is proselytising on Russian soil.
Alexy`s comments highlighted the tension that still exists between the two sides. Relations with Rome would only improve "when today`s gesture is followed by others... and we are not competitors on Russian territory," he said.
But at a three-hour ceremony marked by solemn Orthodox chanting, Kasper nonetheless spoke of a "historic day" and a "new hope of triumphing over all the difficulties, historic or otherwise".
The papal envoy, who is in charge of the Vatican`s relations with other churches, said that despite "lamentable misunderstandings" the two churches would continue efforts to bridge their schism.
His words were echoed in a message from Pope John Paul himself, who expressed hope that Jesus Christ would be "victorious over all the evil and ungodly powers who cause harm to the faith and the evidence of unity" between the two churches.
Receiving the icon, Patriarch Alexy appeared less optimistic but expressed thanks to the Vatican. "We are grateful to the pope, and we hope that Catholics and Orthodox won`t be competitors in Russia."
The stark differences between the two churches were also marked in their dress -- the spectacular blue bejewelled robes of the patriarch and his entourage contrasting with the black cassocks of the Catholic delegation.
The artifact, believed by the faithful to be the source of several miracles, was spirited out of Russia in the 1920s after the Bolshevik revolution and has stood in Pope John Paul II`s private apartments for more than a decade.
It will now be displayed in Alexy`s private chapel as its former home -- the monastery in the central city of Kazan -- was turned into a cigarette factory and has not yet been returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.
In an interview with Italy`s Corriere della Sera daily, published Friday, Alexy II had blasted the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches for proselytising in traditionally Orthodox parts of the former Soviet Union.
"We expect the Roman Church will radically change its policy towards Orthodoxy, that it will cease its unfriendly and deliberate actions," the patriarch said.