Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to Assisi

On the eve of Palm Sunday, former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev decided to pay a visit to Assisi.

It was a strictly private visit and no one would probably have known about it had he not been recognised by one of the Franciscan friars. Once recognised, the friars gave the former Russian leader a warm welcome and a Lithuanian friar showed him round the basilica. When the tour was over Gorbachev, who was accompanied by his daughter Irina and a few friends, recalled his first visit to the Umbrian town in 1989 when he met Pope John Paul II. At the time he was described as a 'non-practising atheist'.

The friars were deeply impressed by the way the former atheist spoke, which showed he had been greatly influenced by the spirituality of St Francis. He even asked for theological texts which would enable him to deepen his understanding of the great saint. Among other things he said that he was extremely pleased to be in Assisi, a place which he said "is important not only to Catholics. The life of the saint is extremely interesting and creates a great spiritual tendion".

Gorbachev explained that his visit to Assisi was a purely private one linked to a humanitarian project in support of Russian children who were suffering from cancer. He said that the charity had already helped some 79 children suffering from the disease.

When asked whether he thought that a visit to Russia by Pope Benedict was possible, he said, pointing his finger up, "Everything is possible if heaven wants it." He added that the present Pope, like his predecessor, is greatly committed to work in the field of ecumenism. "This is a good thing. After all we have had this division (between Catholic and Orthodox Christians) for 700 years."

He also expressed concern about the great damage that man has inflicted on the environment. He accepted an invitation to an encounter that the Friars Minor Conventuals are organising in September to discuss the present state of the environment which was so dear to the great St Francis.