Security for Pope's Ukraine visit 'too tight'

Two million are expected to attend the Pope's services

The Roman Catholic bishop organising Pope John Paul II's forthcoming trip to the Ukraine has expressed concern over special safety measures introduced by the authorities to coincide with the visit.

The Vatican never asked for such measures

Bishop Stanislav Shirokoradyuk

Bishop Stanislav Shirokoradyuk said some of the measures, such as a ban on carrying umbrellas, were excessive.

"Ukraine's security measures pass all bounds and sometimes recall an emergency situation," he was quoted as saying.

The Ukrainian police said they were banning umbrellas because they were easy to mistake for weapons.

They have advised people to wear transparent raincoats in the event of bad weather.

The authorities have distributed leaflets along the planned route of the Pope's tour urging local residents not to come out of their houses, and not to look out of windows.

The visit is unpopular with the Orthodox church

But the organisers say the purpose of the Pope's visit, which begins on Saturday, is to meet Ukrainians, not to avoid them.

"In the entire world, law enforcement and security agencies implement their functions to help people meet the Holy Father, but in Ukraine they understand it in a different way," Bishop Shirokoradyuk said.

Up to two million people are expected to attend the Pope's services in Kiev and Lviv.

The Pope's visit to the predominantly Orthodox former Soviet republic has sparked much controversy.

The visit is strongly opposed by the Russian Orthodox Church, which complains that Roman Catholic missionaries are encroaching into traditionally Orthodox countries.

Demonstration

Earlier this month around 2,000 people staged a demonstration in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, in protest against the visit.

Demonstrators waved placards demanding that the visit should be cancelled.

But a recent survey showed most Ukrainians in favour of the pontiff's visit.

More than 30,000 police officers will be on duty during the visit, which begins on 23 June.