Italian-Born Priest Barred From Country
Russia has banned a Roman Catholic priest from Italy from returning to his parishes, the priest said, amid heightened tensions between the Vatican and Russia’s dominant Orthodox Church.
The Rev. Stefano Caprio, who has lived in Russia since 1989, said passport officers ripped up his visa as he left Moscow on Friday for Italy. Caprio said by phone that he was refused a new visa and was told he was on a list of banned foreigners.
A spokesman for the Russian Border Guard Service, Sergei Ivanchenko, confirmed that Caprio was refused entry into Russia. The Foreign Ministry refused to comment.
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