Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, arrived in Moscow on August 24 for a four-day diplomatic mission (OSV News). The Secretariat of State announced the programme in a post on X, noting that the visit is focused on dialogue and peace heraldmalaysia.com. The schedule includes high-level meetings with Russian government officials, representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, and members of the local Catholic community heraldmalaysia.com. Archbishop Gallagher is scheduled to conclude the trip and return to Rome on August 28 heraldmalaysia.com.
Vatican Diplomat Arrives in Moscow for Four-Day Mission
The visit takes place as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine (OSV News). Vatican News described the timing of the diplomatic effort by stating, The schedule confirms the Holy See’s determination to continue along the path of dialogue, even at one of the most difficult moments in international relations at the global level
heraldmalaysia.com. The mission follows a previous visit by Archbishop Gallagher to Ukraine in July (OSV News), during which he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thecatholicherald.com. In Moscow, the archbishop is not scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin (OSV News).
High-Level Meetings With Russian Officials and Orthodox Leaders
According to the announced itinerary, Archbishop Gallagher’s meetings began on Tuesday, August 25, with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov heraldmalaysia.com. The two previously spoke by telephone in April 2025 to discuss the war in Ukraine and initiatives aimed at halting military actions Thecatholicherald.com. Following his talks with Lavrov, Archbishop Gallagher met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate heraldmalaysia.com.
On Wednesday, August 26, the archbishop is scheduled to meet with Yuri Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Policy heraldmalaysia.com. This diplomatic engagement mirrors past Vatican outreach efforts, such as an October 2024 visit to Moscow by Pope Francis’s special envoy, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, which explored humanitarian collaboration and involved meetings with Lavrov, Ushakov, and Metropolitan Anthony Thecatholicherald.com.
Engagement With Russia’s Catholic Community
In addition to political talks, Archbishop Gallagher’s schedule includes pastoral engagements with the Catholic community in Russia heraldmalaysia.com, which is described as numerically small and geographically dispersed across a vast territory heraldmalaysia.com. On Thursday, August 27, he is set to meet with clergy, religious men and women, and the country’s bishops heraldmalaysia.com. He will also celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Moscow heraldmalaysia.com, noted as the largest Catholic church in Russia Thecatholicherald.com.
The territorial organization of the Catholic Church in Russia encompasses four distinct jurisdictions:
- Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow heraldmalaysia.com
- Diocese of St Clement in Saratov heraldmalaysia.com
- Diocese of the Transfiguration in Novosibirsk heraldmalaysia.com
- Diocese of St Joseph in Irkutsk heraldmalaysia.com
Precedent and Past Diplomacy
This trip marks Archbishop Gallagher’s return to the Russian capital following a previous visit in November 2021 heraldmalaysia.com. During that earlier trip, he held meetings with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Foreign Minister Lavrov, and Metropolitan Hilarion, who was then head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations heraldmalaysia.com.
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