Lukashenko finds Pope's visit to Belarus possible

"The Pope's visit is not just a religious issue, but a state issue as well, because the Pope is the head of the Vatican State," he told the press in Raubichi, central Belarus, on Thursday. Lukashenko stressed the importance of preserving the religious peace and calm achieved in Belarus. It is important that such a visit not draw a line between believers, he said. "The time will soon come when I will gladly receive the Patriarch (the leader of the Russian Orthodox church) and the head of the Roman Catholic church," Lukashenko said.