Catholic World News News Feature

Pope quietly meets new Russian envoy October 28, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI greeted a new diplomatic representative from Russia to the Holy See, Nikolay Sadchikov, in a private audience on October 28.

The Pope's meeting with the new Russian envoy came at the same time that Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, was meeting in Moscow with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

Because the Holy See does not have full diplomatic relations with Russia, the new envoy holds the title of "extraordinary and plenipotentiary representative." When the Pope accepts the diplomatic credentials of a new ambassador, the Vatican generally issues a short statement from the Pontiff. In this case no such statement was released.