VATICAN CITY, APR 6 (ZENIT.org).- John Paul II might visit Russia at the beginning of the coming year. Alcesti Santini, correspondent for "L'Unità," made these statements on "Telepace," a Catholic television network. This newspaper is run by the Party of Democrats of the Left, which up until a few years ago, was called the Italian Communist Party. Santini is a specialist in Vatican affairs.

    During the Cold War years, Santini was a point of contact between communism and Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, the man who was responsible for the Vatican's "Ostpolitik," a strategy that played an important part in the fall of the Soviet Bloc. It should not be forgotten that the Italian Communist Party was the most powerful of all the Communist Parties in Western Europe.

    According to Santini, the new Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is eager to invite the Pope, in order to make a decisive statement about his determination to promote good relations with the West. This motivation, which is strategically critical for Russia's future, is of much weight when it comes to overcoming the opposition that the Orthodox Patriarchy of Moscow has expressed to date in regard to a papal visit.

    Both Mikhail Gorbachov and Boris Yeltsin invited the Pope to visit Russian territory. However, the Holy Father has been unable to do so, because of the opposition of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Pope does not want his visit to be a motive for division and, for this reason, he will not travel to Russia until he has the support of Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II.

    Despite his almost 80 years of age, the Holy Father continues to plan new trips. On May 13 he will visit Fatima to beatify the two little shepherds to whom the Virgin Mary appeared. In addition, during the Jubilee or more likely in 2001, John Paul II wants to travel to Syria, continuing his pilgrimage to places linked with the history of salvation -- St. Paul was converted on the road to Damascus. On this trip, the Pope would also like to go to Athens, following in St. Paul's footsteps, but this stage is turning out to be especially difficult, given the opposition of the Greek Orthodox Church, though civil authorities have extended their welcome.

    In the year 2001, the Pope is slated to go to the island of Guam to conclude the Synod for Oceania, which took place last year in Rome. At this point, preparations for that journey are in a very preliminary state. ZE00040511