VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis took a small step toward improved Vatican-Russian relations Thursday when he chatted with Russian cosmonauts and praised their understanding of love during a call with the International Space Station.

Like a curious child, Francis peppered the crew members with questions both simple — What inspired them to be astronauts? — and philosophical — How do they view mankind’s place in the universe?

The responses he received, in particular from Russian cosmonauts Alexander Misurkin and Sergey Ryazanskiy, marked another small step for the Vatican’s long tense relations with Orthodox Russia.

Ryazanskiy told Francis that he had been inspired by his grandfather, and Misurkin told him: ‘‘Love is the force that gives you strength to give your life for someone else.’’ Francis lit up at both of the cosmonaut’s replies.

ASSOCIATED PRESS