Moscow - Alexi II, the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, died at his home Friday at the age of 79, reported the church.

Alexi II was the head of the church in Russia since 1990. Born Alexei Ruediger, he had ethnic ties to Germany and the Baltic region.

While Alexi II had backed incremental moves to improve ties to the Catholic church, he had, until his death, opposed a visit to Russia by the Catholic pope, arguing that the Catholic church was trying to proselytize in Russia. (dpa)