June 17, 1983

The last three days have seen the largest flurry of political activity since Leonid I. Brezhnev's death in November, but two high-level meetings have ended with little sign that the Kremlin is any closer to bold initiatives that could shake up a sagging economy or ease tensions with the United States. Doubts about Yuri V. Andropov's authority have been eased by his appointment as head of state as well as party leader. But his health remains in question and the speech that he delivered to the party's Central Committee Wednesday, together with an earlier one by Konstantin U. Chernenko, another major Politburo figure, bore a conservative stamp that suggested that the Andropov era may do more to reinforce the coercive aspects of Soviet life than to reinvigorate the increasingly exhausted Soviet system. In foreign policy, too, there was little sign of new moves to reopen a dialogue with the United States, wind down the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan or encourage a growth of popular support for the Communist authorities in Poland. To the contrary, much of what Mr. Andropov and other leaders said implied that the Kremlin feels it is time to remind the West of Moscow's unyielding resolution to defend Soviet positions.

Yuri V. Andropov today added the largely titular position of head of state to his job as general secretary of the Communist Party, thereby assuming the third of the major positions left vacant in November by the death of Leonid I. Brezhnev. Mr. Andropov was elected to the position by a show of hands at a session of the Supreme Soviet, the nominal legislature. As usual in Soviet practice, he was the only candidate. He was formally nominated for the job by Konstantin U. Chernenko, the aide to Mr. Brezhnev who lost to Mr. Andropov in the contest to succeed as party leader.

''Together with all my compatriots, especially with those who are most acutely tasting the bitterness of disappointment, humiliation, suffering, of being deprived of their freedom, of being wronged, of having their dignity trampled upon, I stand beneath the cross of Christ.'' - Pope John Paul II, in Poland. (A1:6.)

Representatives of more than 100 art, cultural and educational institutions told Mayor Koch yesterday they opposed his plan to collect property taxes from many institutions that traditionally have enjoyed exemptions. Speaking at an unusual City Hall hearing conducted by the Mayor, the speakers said taxing the institutions, which range from large museums to small ethnic centers, probably would drive them out of the city, if not out of existence. In either case, the speakers said, the city would be the poorer.

International The Pope went home and allied himself at once with the victims of the martial law restrictions imposed in Poland 18 months ago. John Paul II confronted the nation's political troubles with unusually tough, direct references, both in his arrival at Warsaw's airport and a homily in St. John's Cathedral, which rang with applause. (Page A1, Column 6.) The Pope's return to Poland is considered the most personal of his 18 foreign journeys. Polish priests at the Vatican said John Paul II had an acute sense of personal responsibility for the joyous and tragic events that have swept Poland since his first visit there as Pope in 1979. (A9:1-4.)