Archbishop Paul Gallagher begins visit to Russia

Archbishop Paul Gallagher

Source: Vatican Media

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, arrived in Moscow yesterday for a mission focused on dialogue and peace.

During his visit Archbishop Gallagher will have with meetings with Russian authorities, representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Catholic community.

Today, Tuesday 25 August, the Archbishop will meet Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, followed by a meeting with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On Wednesday 26 August, Archbishop Gallagher will meet Yuri Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Policy.

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.

Archbishop Gallagher's visit will also provide an opportunity to meet the Catholic community, whom he will see on Thursday 27 August.

The day will begin with a meeting with the clergy, religious men and women, followed by the celebration of Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Moscow.

Afterwards, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations will meet with the Bishops.

The Catholic Church in Russia is a numerically small community and is geographically dispersed across a vast territory. Its territorial organization comprises the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow and the dioceses of St Clement in Saratov, the Transfiguration in Novosibirsk and St Joseph in Irkutsk.

This is not the first time Archbishop Gallagher has travelled to the Russian capital. His last visit took place in November 2021. On that occasion, the Archbishop met Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the then head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion.

Archbishop Gallagher will return to Rome on 28 August.