Russian Patriarch Congrats New Pope

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Patriarch Alexiy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, congratulated newly elected Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday and called for his help in uniting the two Christian Churches which have been split for a millennium.

“Our Churches, which have authority and influence, should unite their efforts to spread Christian values to modern humankind. The secular world is losing its spiritual way and needs our joint testimony as never before,” he said.

Benedict, who as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was a close aide to John Paul, is known for conservative views on matters such as women priests and homosexuality, which commentators said would play well with the Orthodox Church.

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