Vatican Envoys, Soviets Reportedly Plan ’88 Debate on Existence of God

VATICAN CITY —  Vatican envoys will meet with Soviet atheists in Leningrad next year for an unprecedented debate over whether God is dead, a Rome newspaper reported Sunday.

Il Messaggero said the conference on God and atheism--the first official meeting between Vatican and Soviet authorities since the Russian Revolution in 1917--probably will take place in the spring or fall of 1988.

The newspaper said an official Vatican delegation composed of cardinals and other prelates will travel to Leningrad for the meeting.

Il Messaggero said the suggestion for the debate came from Moscow and that Father Franc Rode, undersecretary of the Secretariat for Non-Believers, replied by suggesting that the topic be “If God Is Truly Dead.”