Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI cautioned Roman Catholic bishops in former Soviet republics today against aggressive means of gaining converts, an issue that has complicated attempts to reconcile his church with Orthodox Christians.

A Vatican envoy to Moscow, meanwhile, reported progress in improving relations between the two communions that could one day pave the way for a papal visit to Russia.

The Russian Orthodox Church has accused the Vatican of poaching for converts. The Roman Catholic Church contends it is simply looking after its tiny flock in former Soviet nations, where Orthodoxy is the predominant Christian denomination.

In general, such countries do not forbid Orthodox worshippers to convert to Catholicism, but Orthodox authorities have complained about other faiths.

For instance, the US State Department recently reported that respect for religious freedom in Tajikistan has declined over the last year.

That was evident today, when Nozirdzhon Buriyev, a spokesman for the former Soviet republic, said a court has ordered the banning of the Jehovah s Witnesses in the Central Asian country. He said the group was found by a military court to have breached religious legislation and illegally imported faith literature.

The Pope urged the bishops to keep the Christian faith alive, he said he wanted to remind them that "the Church never imposes, but freely proposes the Catholic faith."

Tensions with Orthodox leaders after the demise of Soviet Union prevented Benedict s predecessor, John Paul II, from realising his dream of a pilgrimage to Moscow.
Source : PTI