«Someone … told me that the president wanted to meet with me privately,» said Archbishop Kondrusiewicz, still visibly moved by his unexpected encounter with the American leader.
«When President Bush entered the room, his first words were: ´You are in trouble?´ I understood immediately that he had been informed about the present situation of the Catholic Church in Russia,» the archbishop told the Times.
Bush stressed the importance of the separation of church and the state, and said all religions should enjoy the same rights.
The U.S. president «made it clear that these rights are not based on a simple human law, but that this law had been entrusted by God,» said the archbishop.
Archbishop Kondrusiewicz mentioned two leaders, Bishop Jerzy Mazur and Italian Father Stefano Caprio, both of whom have been expelled from Russia.
Bush expressed concern about the developments and offered his help. «President Bush did promise me that he would raise the issue of religious freedom with President Putin,» the archbishop said.
