Moscow, March 15, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church dismissed statements from State Duma members that Patriarch Alexy II and Pope Benedict XVI may meet after following President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Vatican this week.

"The assumption is absolutely groundless," deputy head of the department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Mark told Interfax.

"The dialogue between Russia and the Vatican as states is conducted in parallel with the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches and these dialogues, though having similar features, do not coincide," he added.

Putin "shows great respect and tact with regard to the Russian Orthodox Church and the subject of religion in general," the bishop added. This respectful attitude is fully compatible with the constitutional principle of the separation of the church from the state, he said

"President Putin is not taking the initiative of inventing anything in the religious sphere, leaving that to the religious figures, which is a very sane and correct attitude," the bishop said.