By The European Times | Created at 2026-08-31 10:32:01 | Updated at 2026-09-26 18:24:28
3 weeks ago
The Holy See’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, paid an official visit to Moscow, the first visit of a Vatican representative of such rank to Russia in five years. On August 25, he held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with the advisor to the Russian president, Yuri Ushakov, and with the chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk.
The main topic of the talks with Lavrov was the war in Ukraine and the possibilities for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. Gallagher stressed that the Holy See continues to insist on an end to hostilities and the start of real negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “Diplomacy is especially necessary when there are disagreements,” the Vatican diplomat said, noting the need to keep channels of communication between the countries open.
“Despite the significant differences in our assessments on various issues, some points of contact were also found. We confirmed the need to keep the channels of communication open, (…) as well as the importance of cooperation on humanitarian issues. (…) Diplomacy is particularly necessary precisely when there are disagreements,” the archbishop stressed.
“One of the areas in which we saw a willingness to cooperate is precisely the humanitarian sphere,” the Vatican diplomat said. “We discussed issues such as the return of children to their families, the situation of prisoners of war and detained civilians, the exchange of information on missing persons, the reunification of separated families and support for the wounded. We examined these issues on the basis of humanitarian criteria, avoiding their politicization. Any concrete result (…) can reduce human suffering and help restore a minimum level of trust between the parties to the conflict.”
On the Russian side, Lavrov raised with the representative of the Holy See questions related to the situation of the Russian language and culture in Ukraine, as well as the actions of the Ukrainian authorities towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. A similar position was presented to Archbishop Gallagher during his meeting with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who acquainted him with the assessment of the Moscow Patriarchate on the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The conversation was also attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Russia, Archbishop Giovanni D’Aniello, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov and Archpriest Igor Vizhanov.
Gallagher’s visit is part of the Holy See’s ongoing efforts to maintain a diplomatic channel with Moscow despite the significant disagreements over the war. The Vatican has repeatedly offered mediation and the opportunity for negotiations, and so far its most concrete role has been in the humanitarian field. Before Gallagher, Moscow was also visited by the Pope’s special envoy for the peace mission in Ukraine, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.
The Vatican diplomat and the Russian side also discussed the crises in the Middle East and Africa, the issues of artificial intelligence and its military application, as well as the possibility of resuming political consultations between Russia and the Holy See. The visit is ongoing, with no specific new initiatives to end the war reported so far.
Immediately after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin declared the Vatican’s readiness to assist the negotiation process and mediate between Moscow and Kiev, and in the following years Pope Francis repeatedly insisted on the restoration of direct dialogue. This line received a new impetus after the election of Pope Leo XIV: in May 2025, the Holy See again offered the Vatican as a “neutral and protected place” for possible peace talks, and in July the Pope repeated the offer to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kiev welcomed the idea and mentioned the Vatican among the possible venues for a high-level meeting, but Moscow reacted with reserve: Sergei Lavrov described such a venue as inappropriate, and Russian representatives stated that they preferred Turkey or the Persian Gulf states. In this context, Archbishop Gallagher’s current visit to Moscow can also be seen as a continuation of the long-standing attempt by Vatican diplomacy to preserve a channel for possible future negotiations.
Illustrative photo: Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher / Vatican News.
