Nation : Vatican, Moscow Establish Ties
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VATICAN CITY — The Vatican and the Soviet Union established official ties today for the first time since the 1917 Russian Revolution.
The Vatican and Moscow said the two sides have agreed to exchange representatives with the rank of ambassador extraordinary and apostolic nuncio. The ties fall short of full diplomatic relations. Vatican spokesman Joaquim Navarro described them as “pre-diplomatic relations.”
The decision was made during the meeting at the Vatican in December between Pope John Paul II and Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev. They were the first talks ever between a Roman Catholic pontiff and a supreme Soviet leader.
The Vatican will be represented by Archbishop Francesco Colasuonno, an Italian prelate who has been a roving Vatican envoy to Eastern Europe. The name of the Soviet ambassador was not immediately announced.
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