Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II, who presided over a vast post-Soviet revival of faith but was accused of making the church a force for nationalism, has died aged 79.

Church leaders, politicians and believers across the country began celebrations of Russian Orthodox Christmas on the eve of the holiday Friday, with President Vladimir Putin sending greetings to the faithful.

The Vatican acknowledged for the first time today that it may have to curtail papal travel because of Pope John Paul II’s feeble condition, suggesting that planned stops in Mexico and Guatemala in July could be dropped.