Iryna Dubianieckaja: We can’t expect that the Pope will visit Belarus before long

Being non-European by origin, New Patriarch of Rome Francis I will be able to give impartial assessment of the relations with the Moscow Patriarchate.

This opinion shared with the EuroBelarus Information Service Iryna Dubianieckaja, Doctor of Theology.

“For now we can only say that the new Pope is a vivid and remarkable personality. And of course, he will influence the Catholic Church all over the world. This man has the Jesuit education and at the same time innocence, goodwill and wish for social justice”, - noted Iryna Dubianieckaja.

She believes that it is highly possible that under the reign of the new Pope Catholic Church will “not only try to meet the world challenges, but rather lead and shape this world”.

For now it is rather hard to say whether the new Pope will be attentive to the problems of Belarus, noted the expert. “A lot will depend upon Belarus itself; how well it will present its problems to the Pope”.

In any case, in the near future we can’t expect that the Pope will visit Belarus, Doctor of Theology assumes.

What concerns relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, it is the relations with non-Christian religions (for instance, Islam) that will be of greater importance for the Catholic Church before long, the expert is sure.

The interlocutor of EuroBelarus noted that two previous Pontiffs (John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI) showed bigger concern about the relations with the Moscow Patriarchate. “Perhaps, it will be more beneficial for Belarus that Francis I, being an Argentinian, will be less concerned about these relations and could be more objective about the situation in Belarus”, - Iryna Dubianieckaja said.

But should we expect that the change of the Pontiff can influence the positions and the actions of the Catholic Church in such remote area as Belarus?

“It goes without saying that the fact that the Church has more than a billion of believers means that is has very huge structure with its own laws, well-trodden ways and its internal pace, - admitted Iryna Dubianieckaja. –But of course, it is the Pontiff who gives Church the vector. His personality influences church members tremendously”.

Practical influence of the Pope will much depend on how active his policy will be. “If the Pontiff summons the Vatican Council, as it was in the 60s last time, then it can completely change the church’s course”, - exemplified Iryna Dubianieckaja.

She highlighted that one can define the political influence of Francis I more precisely only after his first months as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church pass. “We need to see first documents he will issue, see to which theological school of thought he belongs”, - explained the expert.

“For now we can only say that he won’t be a radical, he won’t introduce any liberal social reforms. His moral principles are very uncomplying”, - noted Iryna Dubianieckaja.