INSTANT VIEW: World reaction to death of Russian patriarch

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexiy II, who revived the nation's main religion after decades of Soviet atheism and healed an 80-year rift with a branch of the Russian Orthodox church in the West, died on Friday. He was 79.

Following is reaction from leaders and churches around the world:

POPE BENEDICT:

"I was profoundly saddened to receive news of the death of His Holiness Alexiy II, Patriarch of Moscow and of All the Russias, and with fraternal affection I wish to convey to the Holy Synod and to all the Members of the Russian Orthodox Church my most sincere condolences, assuring you of my spiritual closeness at this very sad time.

"Mindful of the common commitment to the path of mutual understanding and cooperation between Orthodox and Catholics, I am pleased to recall the efforts of the late Patriarch for the rebirth of the Church, after the severe ideological oppression which led to the martyrdom of so many witnesses to the Christian faith."

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV:

"He preached unifying universal human values -- humanity, kindness and mercy ... He initiated dialogue among churches and nations ... He served the unity of the whole Russian nation.

"From the very first days of his patriarchy, Alexiy II strived to overcome the tragic split of the Russian Orthodox Church and to revive it in all entirety and magnificence. And it is his great personal merit that this unification took place."

PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN

"The passing away of the Patriarch is really a very tragic and sad event. Alexiy II was a real Patriarch, a Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.

"It is a great loss. He was not only a major player in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, but also a major state player ... He did a great deal for the formation of the new Russian statehood."

HOLY SYNOD OF ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GREECE:

"With great sorrow we have been informed of the ascent to our Lord of our beloved Brother in Christ, Moscow Patriarch Alexiy II, who for nearly three decades as a most capable helmsman guided the spiritual ship of the Church of Russia during difficult times of hardship to a period of spiritual renaissance."

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH:

Filaret, Patriarch of independent Ukrainian Orthodox church, unrecognized by Russia's Orthodox church, expressed his condolences to the Russian church.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO: