Vatican: Kosovo, the cradle of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Source: Century, www.shekulli.com.al)

The Vatican does not intend to recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo Albanians , says Cardinal Kasper Wallter to Kathpress Catholic daily .
Cardinal is the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity headquartered in Vatican . He was on a visit to Russia last month , where he met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexei II . After meeting for the first Russian media said that , ” the Vatican understands the concerns of Russia and the Orthodox Church on the issue of Kosovo . We also understand that Kosovo is the cradle of the Serbian Orthodox Church . ”
He also added that the Holy See’s position is that all ethnic minorities have equal rights to religious , cultural , social and self-determination . But according to Cardinal Kasper , Serbs are seriously ” limited ” in achieving these rights .
Kasper Wallter within the Vatican diplomatic circles is known as ” one of the most influential personalities of the Church and one of the best diplomats to the Vatican and a man who enjoys the confidence of the current Pope Benedict XVI .”
It seems to change the current position of the Vatican did not affect either the presence of a small Catholic community in Kosovo .
Community more than 60,000 Catholics, mostly ethnic Albanian origin has experienced difficulties with practical issues in the life of the Church , the Vatican also hopes to improve relations between local churches and the global Church . When Archbishop Juliusz Janusz was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI , as the new ambassador , or ” Apostolic Nuncio ” in Slovenia on February 10 , he was also charged with the responsibility of apostolic delegate to Kosovo . Press Office of the Holy See explained that as an apostolic delegate has the responsibility of his ” purely ecclesiastical ” and that ” the relationship between the Vatican and Catholics in Kosovo is completely distinct from diplomatic activity ” .
” The mission of an apostolic delegate is not a diplomatic nature , but ( it ) with the request to adequately meet the pastoral needs of the Catholic faithful , ” the Vatican said .
In the newspaper ” Politika Belgrade Serbia ” interviewed Archbishop Orlando Antonini , the Vatican Nuncio in Serbia , the consequences of the appointment .
He guarantees that the Holy See has not changed its stance on Kosovo .
Apostolic Delegates in similar situations exist all over the world Puerto Rico , for example , is legally a U.S. territory , but it is within the jurisdiction of the Church of the Dominican Republic . The same is true for the islands of the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world , he explained .
How to talk to the Vatican for recognition , said the Holy Nuncio will not speak until governments in Pristina and Belgrade will not agree on the subject of his status.