Abroad

The Kremlin has set its seal of approval on the Hungarian experiment with a liberalized, Western-style economy—“a new world,” in the words of a high Soviet official. Grigory Romanov, who headed Moscow’s delegation to the 13th Congress of the Hungarian Communist Party, told a nervous audience here that “Hungary, in close unity with the Soviet Union, has built a new world. Everything that has been realized demonstrates the correctness of the road which we have chosen.” Romanov went on to assert that priority was now being given to the “modernization of economic mechanisms,” emphasizing the role of cooperation within Comecon, the economic structure embracing Iron Curtain states that was set up to counterbalance the Common Market. He added a favorable word about the development of commercial relations with the West on the condition that they not become an instrument of political pressure.

Ugo Vetere has been Communist mayor of Rome for ten years, and the Vatican, together with many Romans, thinks that is long enough. Hence Pope John Paul II is supporting his own candidate, Alberto Michelini, a television journalist, member of the religious fraternity Opus Dei, and currently a Christian Democratic deputy to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Michelini is a personal friend of the Pope, having accompanied him for Italian Radio-Television (RAI) on all his foreign trips. He is moreover a popular announcer for the Italian version of the Today show. Meanwhile a public debate has broken out between the Communists and the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Ugo Poletti, in preparation for the election at the beginning of May. The cardinal alleges that Vetere has encouraged young Romans to contract civil marriages only; has eliminated qualified Catholics from the municipal family-counseling services; and is responsible for general mismanagement of the Eternal City. This is the first public fight between Catholic and Communist political leaders since 1948, and sources close to the Vatican say that the Pope, a vigorous foe of Communism, is determined to “take back” the city into Christian hands.

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The Kremlin has set its seal of approval on the Hungarian experiment with a liberalized, Western-style economy—“a new world,” in the words of a high Soviet official. Grigory Romanov, who headed Moscow’s delegation to the 13th Congress of the Hungarian Communist Party, told a nervous audience here that “Hungary, in close unity with the Soviet Union, has built a new world. Everything that has been realized demonstrates the correctness of the road which we have chosen.” Romanov went on to assert that priority was now being given to the “modernization of economic mechanisms,” emphasizing the role of cooperation within Comecon, the economic structure embracing Iron Curtain states that was set up to counterbalance the Common Market. He added a favorable word about the development of commercial relations with the West on the condition that they not become an instrument of political pressure.

Ugo Vetere has been Communist mayor of Rome for ten years, and the Vatican, together with many Romans, thinks that is long enough. Hence Pope John Paul II is supporting his own candidate, Alberto Michelini, a television journalist, member of the religious fraternity Opus Dei, and currently a Christian Democratic deputy to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Michelini is a personal friend of the Pope, having accompanied him for Italian Radio-Television (RAI) on all his foreign trips. He is moreover a popular announcer for the Italian version of the Today show. Meanwhile a public debate has broken out between the Communists and the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Ugo Poletti, in preparation for the election at the beginning of May. The cardinal alleges that Vetere has encouraged young Romans to contract civil marriages only; has eliminated qualified Catholics from the municipal family-counseling services; and is responsible for general mismanagement of the Eternal City. This is the first public fight between Catholic and Communist political leaders since 1948, and sources close to the Vatican say that the Pope, a vigorous foe of Communism, is determined to “take back” the city into Christian hands.