VATICAN AND RUSSIA MEET IN MOSCOW FOR PEACE TALKS AND HUMANITARIAN AGENDA

VATICAN AND RUSSIA MEET IN MOSCOW FOR PEACE TALKS AND HUMANITARIAN AGENDA

Visit by Cardinal Paul Richard Gallagher marks the first mission by the Vatican’s head of diplomacy to the country in nearly five years.

In a strategic move of diplomacy and mediation, the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Cardinal Paul Richard Gallagher, began a five-day official visit to Moscow. This marks the first trip by the Vatican's head of diplomacy to the Russian capital since November 2021.

The official mission aims to open and consolidate channels for direct dialogue amidst the current geopolitical landscape. On Tuesday (25), Cardinal Gallagher met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to call for an immediate ceasefire, the resumption of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and the resolution of urgent humanitarian issues.

The schedule continues this Wednesday (26) with a meeting with Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Kremlin, alongside scheduled meetings with leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate to maintain ecumenical and institutional dialogue between the churches.

Key Pillars of the Moscow Mission:

Mediation and End to Conflict: Formal call for the cessation of hostilities and defense of reopening bilateral diplomatic channels.

Urgent Humanitarian Action: Negotiations to expand prisoner of war exchanges and facilitate the repatriation of Ukrainian children and minors.

Active Neutrality: Reaffirmation of pontifical diplomacy as a neutral space for spiritual support and conflict mediation.

Continuity of the Peace Mission: Laying institutional groundwork for the next steps of the peace initiative led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.

With this initiative, the Vatican reinforces its historic role as a neutral facilitator, working to build bridges during periods of extreme international tension.