Andrei Gromyko
Pope Paul VI continued John XXIII's policy of dialogue with Soviet leaders to reduce persecutions against local Christians. His policy has been called "Ostpolitik" because it closely resembled similar policies that were being adopted by some nations of Western Europe such as West Germany. He received Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Nikolai Podgorny in 1966 and 1967 in the Vatican.