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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