BREAKING News Vatican's Top Diplomat in Russia for High-level Diplomatic Mission for Peace to Meet with President Putin's Advisors


 Archbishop Gallagher Begins Diplomatic Visit to Russia

Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, arrives in Moscow today for a high-level diplomatic mission centered on peace and international dialogue. Announced by the Secretariat of State via its official X account (@TerzaLoggia), the visit runs through August 28 and includes key meetings with Russian officials, Eastern Orthodox leadership, and the local Catholic community.

Official Itinerary

  • Tuesday, August 25: High-level talks with 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 for the Moscow Patriarchate.

  • Wednesday, August 26: A diplomatic session with Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Policy Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.

  • Thursday, August 27: Pastoral engagements with the local Catholic faithful. The Archbishop will meet with local clergy and religious orders, celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Moscow, and hold a private conference with Russia's Catholic Bishops.

  • Friday, August 28: Conclusion of the mission and return flight to Rome.

Broader Context & Diplomatic Precedent

This visit underscores the Holy See’s persistent commitment to open channels of dialogue despite heightened global geopolitical tensions.

Russia’s Catholic community remains numerically small and spread across four vast territorial jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow, and the dioceses of St. Clement (Saratov), the Transfiguration (Novosibirsk), and St. Joseph (Irkutsk).

This marks Archbishop Gallagher's second major diplomatic journey to the Russian capital. During his previous visit in November 2021, he held meetings with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Metropolitan Hilarion, then-head of the Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations.

Source - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-08/archbishop-paul-richard-gallagher-moscow-russia-24-to-28-august.html

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