Pope Leo XIV is once again trying to reestablish contact with Russia
Pope Leo XIV has intensified diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. He has enlisted the Holy See’s chief diplomat—Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher—in this process. Gallagher has already held a meeting in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and earlier, the Vatican had also considered the possibility of him holding talks with Vladimir Putin’s adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
Gallagher’s trip to Moscow has been one of the Vatican’s most high-profile diplomatic initiatives regarding Russia since the start of the full-scale war. The archbishop arrived in the Russian capital on August 24 and is scheduled to return to Rome on August 28. His itinerary includes meetings with Russian officials, representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Catholic community.
On August 25, Gallagher held talks with Sergey Lavrov. After the meeting, the Holy See’s representative stated that the war must end and that it is impossible to resolve the conflict by military means. According to him, conditions must be created for a political and diplomatic process.
The Vatican diplomat also emphasized the importance of humanitarian work. Among the topics discussed with the Russian side were aid for war victims and issues concerning children. Gallagher expressed the Holy See’s readiness to continue facilitating dialogue and to offer its “good offices” in the search for peace.
What Is Known About the Talks with Putin’s Advisor
Initially, the Vatican announced that Gallagher was scheduled to meet with Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president’s adviser on foreign policy, on August 26. This item was officially included in the itinerary released by the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
However, as of the evening of August 27, there is no official confirmation available that this meeting actually took place. In recent reports from the Vatican and other sources describing Gallagher’s stay in Moscow, talks with Ushakov are still listed as a planned part of the itinerary, rather than as a meeting that has taken place.
Instead, on August 26, it was reported that Gallagher visited the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. There, he met with Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Leo XIV Bets on Diplomacy
The Times views Gallagher’s mission as part of Leo XIV’s new diplomatic approach. According to the publication, the pontiff is attempting to use the Holy See’s professional diplomatic apparatus to maintain channels of communication with Moscow.
Gallagher is one of the Vatican’s most experienced diplomats. In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him secretary for relations with states and international organizations—effectively the Holy See’s chief diplomat. Prior to that, he worked at Vatican diplomatic missions in various countries.
For Gallagher, this visit marks his first trip to Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. He was last in Moscow in November 2021, where he met with then-Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Lavrov, and a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The Vatican maintains contacts with both Moscow and Kyiv
Gallagher’s diplomatic activities are not limited to Russia. In July, the archbishop visited Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian officials and toured areas affected by Russian attacks. He then traveled to Moscow—a move demonstrating the Vatican’s willingness to maintain contacts with both sides of the conflict.
The Times notes that these recent activities may represent an attempt by the Holy See to reclaim a more prominent role in the diplomatic process. At the same time, maintaining contact with Moscow does not in itself imply that the Kremlin is ready to reach specific agreements.
According to The Times, the Russian ambassador to the Holy See stated that Moscow is interested in the proposal to hold further talks in Rome. However, at this stage, the discussion centers specifically on interest in such a possibility, rather than on agreeing to a specific format for peace talks.
Separately, the Vatican continues its ecumenical dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate. During his current visit, Gallagher met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian side, in particular, raised with the representative of the Holy See the issue it refers to as the “persecution” of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On August 27, Gallagher is scheduled to meet with Catholic clergy and bishops in Russia, as well as celebrate Mass at the Moscow Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After that, he is scheduled to conclude his visit and return to Rome on August 28.
This was reported with reference to The Times and Vatican News.
