MOSCOW - Talks between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church were suspended indefinitely after the Vatican upgraded its structure in Russia and it remains unclear when they will be able to resume, the Russian Orthodox patriarch said Monday.

"Right now, no talks are being held," Patriarch Alexy II said at a news conference.

The patriarch said he is ready for dialogue, but added that "the Vatican has taken an unfriendly step ... that will hinder the negotiation process."

The Orthodox Church was outraged when the Vatican raised the status of its four apostolic administrations in Russia, making them full-fledged dioceses.

Catholic officials insist the move was aimed simply at providing better pastoral services, not proselytizing. But Orthodox leaders accused the Vatican of trying to poach converts on their territory.

The dispute has clouded prospects for a visit to Russia by Pope John Paul II, who has made improving relations with Orthodox churches a top priority and has expressed a wish to come to Russia.

The Catholic Church says there are about 600,000 Catholics in Russia. Roughly two-thirds of Russia's population of 144 million consider themselves Orthodox, though very few attend services regularly, according to independent estimates.