KIEV Pope John Paul II appealed to the Orthodox Christians of Ukraine Saturday to forgive "the errors committed toward them in the ancient and recent past," on arriving in Kiev on a five-day visit.

The 81-year-old pope, whose controversial visit to Ukraine has sparked a bitter dispute between the former Soviet republic's Roman Catholics and its Orthodox majority, said that the Catholics, for their part, "forgave the wrongs" done to them.

"My most heartfelt wish is that the errors of the past not be repeated in the future," the pontiff said,

The Pope sought to reach across Christianity's east-west divide by stressing Ukraine's "evident European vocation underlined by the Christian roots of your culture."

Portraying himself as a "pilgrim of peace and brotherhood," the Pope began the historic visit by expressing hope that he would "be received with friendship by all those who, without belonging to the (Catholic) church, have an open heart for dialogue and cooperation."

Since the collapse 10 years ago of the Soviet Union, which outlawed religion, Ukraine's Orthodox majority has accused the Roman Catholics of seeking to convert the population, taking control of parishes and seizing church assets.

But the Pope dismissed the tense background to his visit, saying: "I have not come here with the intention to proselytize, but as a witness for Christ, together with all the Christians of the whole church and ecclesiastical community."