> Europe - Vatican - Christianity - General
>
> "Mikhail Gorbachev admits he is a Christian"
>
> http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=28051&con=56&sec=56
>
> By Malcolm Moore ("Telegraph", March 19. 2008)
>
> Rome, Italy - Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Communist leader of the Soviet
> Union, has acknowledged his Christian faith for the first time, paying a
> surprise visit to pray at the tomb of St Francis of Assisi.
>
> Accompanied by his daughter Irina, Mr Gorbachev spent half an hour on his
> knees in silent prayer at the tomb.
>
> His arrival in Assisi was described as "spiritual perestroika" by La
> Stampa,
> the Italian newspaper.
>
> "St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ," said Mr
> Gorbachev. "His story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role in
> my
> life," he added.
>
> Mr Gorbachev's surprise visit confirmed decades of rumours that, although
> he
> was forced to publicly pronounce himself an atheist, he was in fact a
> Christian, and casts a meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1989 in a new
> light.
>
> Mr Gorbachev, 77, was baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church and his
> parents were Christians.
>
> In addition, the parents of his wife Raisa were deeply religious and were
> killed during the Second World War for having religious icons in their
> home.
>
> Ronald Reagan, the former United States president, allegedly told his
> close
> aides on a number of occasions that he felt his opponent during the Cold
> War
> was a "closet believer".
>
> Mr Reagan held deep religious convictions himself. However, until now Mr
> Gorbachev has allowed himself to express only pantheistic views, saying in
> one interview "nature is my god".
>
> After his prayers, Mr Gorbachev toured the Basilica of St Francis and
> asked
> in particular to be shown an icon of St Francis portraying his "dream at
> Spoleto".
>
> St Francis, who lived in the 12th century, was a troubadour and a poet
> before the spiritual vision caused him to return to Assisi and contemplate
> a
> religious life.
>
> Even in his early days, St Francis helped the poor, once giving all of his
> money to a beggar. As well as spending time in the wilderness, he also
> nursed lepers and eventually became a priest.
>
> "It was through St Francis that I arrived at the Church, so it was
> important
> that I came to visit his tomb," said Mr Gorbachev.
>
> "I feel very emotional to be here at such an important place not only for
> the Catholic faith, but for all humanity."
>
> He also asked the monks for theological books to help him understand St
> Francis's life.
>
> Father Miroslavo Anuskevic, who accompanied the former Soviet leader,
> said:
> "He was not recognised by any of the worshippers in the church, and
> silently
> meditated at the tomb for a while. He seemed a man deeply inspired by
> charity, and told me that he was involved in a project to help children
> with
> cancer.
>
> "He talked a lot about Russia and said that even though the transition to
> democracy had been very important for the world, it was very painful for
> Russia. He said it was a country which has a great history, and also a
> great
> spirituality."
>
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> in the articles posted. This is purely an information site, to inform
> interested parties of religious trends.
>
>