Mons. Paul Richard Gallagher has concluded his visit to Moscow by focusing on Russia’s small Catholic community. After three days marked by conversations with Russian authorities and the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations dedicated the final day of his mission to meeting with priests, religious, bishops, and Catholic faithful.
Gallagher expressly conveyed to them the «affectionate greetings of Pope Leo XIV» and expressed gratitude for the fidelity with which they carry out their pastoral, educational, and charitable work «often under difficult conditions», according to Vatican News reported on Friday.
The Catholic Church constitutes a small minority in Russia, and its faithful are scattered across an immense territory. Its territorial structure consists of 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.
Leo XIV conveys his closeness to Russian Catholics
During the meeting with priests, religious brothers, and sisters, Gallagher emphasized communion as a condition for Christian witness to be fruitful.
«Where communion and unity reign,» he noted, «witness becomes credible and fruitful.» The Holy See representative reminded the consecrated persons of their responsibility to make visible through their own lives the Gospel they proclaim.
The visit also carried a strong message of closeness from the Pope. The Secretariat of State of the Holy See stated on Friday that Gallagher assured the Catholic community in Moscow of «the closeness and prayers of the Holy Father Leo XIV» during the solemn Eucharistic celebration on Thursday.
Gallagher also urged Catholics to persevere in dialogue with other Churches and Christian communities, with other religions, and with those who do not share the faith, but stressed that such encounters must not come at the expense of their own identity.
Dialogue, he affirmed, must proceed without renouncing «one’s own identity,» while opening oneself with respect to the truth and the gifts present in the other.
A cathedral filled with faithful in the heart of Moscow
After the meeting with clergy and consecrated persons, Gallagher presided over a solemn Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Moscow, which, according to Vatican News, was filled with faithful.
Concelebrants included, among others, the Apostolic Nuncio Mons. Giovanni d’Aniello, Mons. Joseph Werth, Mons. Nikolai Dubinin, and Mons. Stephan Lipke.
During the homily, Gallagher once again conveyed Leo XIV’s encouragement for the Catholic community of the Russian Federation to continue «with ever greater enthusiasm, the path of faith.»
«Here with you, in this solemn celebration, the universal Church is represented,» he stated. Catholics from different countries, cultures, and histories, he added, were gathered «here, in the heart of Moscow, as one family united by the same faith in God.»
The archbishop linked this Catholic presence to the building of peace and called for becoming «true artisans of peace in our daily lives,» building bridges of dialogue and understanding, and healing wounds through closeness, forgiveness, and kindness.
Gallagher meets with Russia’s Catholic bishops
The day concluded with a meeting with the country’s Catholic bishops, which continued over a fraternal meal at the archdiocesan curia. Gallagher exhorted them to continue their pastoral mission with «renewed enthusiasm.»
The meeting concluded the properly ecclesial dimension of a trip that had begun on Monday, August 24, and during which Gallagher also held conversations with authorities of the Russian Federation and representatives of the Patriarchate of Moscow.
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Lavrov reveals a new detail of his conversation with Gallagher
Coinciding with the end of the trip, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed new details of the meeting he held with Gallagher on Tuesday.
According to the version offered by the Russian minister, Gallagher reportedly acknowledged that the situation of religious rights in Ukraine «is not good» and committed to conveying this concern in future contacts with Ukrainian authorities.
This issue adds to a visit in which Gallagher has insisted to Russian authorities that the war in Ukraine cannot be resolved by military means and the need to open a political and diplomatic process.