Moscow sees danger in a ‘political’ Pope

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 12

Moscow sees danger in a ‘political’ Pope

By

DEV MURARKA

in Moscow

The Russians sense an element of demagogy in the Pope’s approach to the world. His strenuous efforts to speak as many languages as he can, to project himself through the media, to travel widely, are interpreted as signs that he intends to establish himself as a political as well as a religious leader. The danger, according to Soviet experts, is that, encouraged by his surging popularity as demonstrated in Poland, he will come to believe in his Messianic role

and that this could give rise to new tensions in the Soviet bloc.

But, apart from the sheer embarrassment of such an intense display of religious fervour in a Communist nation, they are not unduly alarmed at the implications of the visit. In the Kremlin, the key question is whether it has made a confrontation between Church and State more or less likely. On the whole, the answer is ■ less likely. Soviet experts believe that,

motivated by commonsense and a desire to ensure that his fellow Poles do not suffer in a clash, the Pope will be encouraged to co-operate with the Communist authorities.

After all, what point would there be in bringing about a confrontation which he would be unable to control and' in which he would be able to offer no practical help?

In the opinion of the Kremlin, the new Pope, in spite of his rhetoric about human rights and religious

freedom, is a moderate among Polish Church leaders. Some Soviet observers see a similarity between his behaviour and that of President Carter — and coming from the Russians that is not a compliment. Instead of attending to the problems of the Church, he has concentrated on image-building. In the same way, Carter won the presidency by promising to cure domestic ills, but has spent most of his energy conducting global policy, with indifferent results.

There is a similarity too —

they say — in the way the Pope has used slogans such as human rights only against an external enemy, Communism.

The Russians are therefore disappointed. Catholicism does not affect them very much, except in the Baltic states, but they do not want to cause offence to anyone.

either the Poles or the Vatican.

So there are no polemics against the Pope. Their attitude is one of waiting and watching, and hoping that the Pope will be guided by the need for a practical relationship between the Vatican and the Kremlin. —O.F.N.S., Copyright.