On Thursday morning, Pope John Paul II received Igor Sergeevich Rimmer, president of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg (Russian Federation), who presented him the commemorative medal for the third centenary of the foundation of the city.

“In St. Petersburg,” said the Pontiff, “the gateway that opens into the great nation of the Russian Federation, everything speaks of fruitful cultural, spiritual, artistic and human dialogue between western and Eastern Europe.”

“It is my desire that this constructive attitude of openness may continue to exercise a positive influence in benefit of mutual understanding between peoples with different human, religious and spiritual traditions,” he concluded.