"I think that was a big oversight. What were we afraid of? Are we Serbs so weak that a visit by the pope could shake our Orthodox faith, our Church and the Serbian people's positions in terms of statehood, culture and religion?" Belgrade's Politika daily quoted the metropolitan as saying on Sunday.
He described John Paul II as a "charismatic figure who had enough strength and courage to send everyone specific messages, managing to win masses of people around the world to his mission".
The metropolitan also voiced confidence the cardinals' choice for the next pope would know how to lead the Church in the times ahead.