Moscow (Fides Service) - During his New Year address to Diplomats accredited to the Holy See on 13 January 2003, in the Vatican, Pope John Paul II said with regard to Europe: "We believe it desirable that, in full respect of the secular state, three complementary elements should be recognised: religious freedom not only in its individual and ritual aspects, but also in its social and coorporative dimensions". Fides Service asked Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Catholic Archbishop of Mother of God Diocese in Moscow and President of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops in Russia, to comment the Pope's address. "Pope John Paul II, who defends human rights since the outset of his Pontificate, addressed his personal attention to the critical situation of Russian Catholics and intervened in their defence. While building democracy, Russia must observe international obligations and guarantee Catholics their due rights. We are grateful to the Pope for this sign of his support, solidarity and love for our "little flock" which finds itself in a difficult situation. Despite harsh reaction on the part of a representative of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow and the fact that the Russian government has completely ignored the problem, we all hope that the Pope's words will be listened to in Russia, and that they will be understood and effective". (MS) (Fides Service 15/1/2003) .