A rare Vatican visit to Moscow has brought new attention to the Holy See’s efforts to address a war that continues to divide millions.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher met with Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov during a three-day visit to Moscow. The Holy See’s Secretariat of State announced the talks on X.
The conversation focused on current issues on the international agenda.
– Secretariat of State of the Holy See
Gallagher’s meeting with Yuri Ushakov was initially scheduled for August 26 but was postponed until the following day. No reason was given for the change of date.
Gallagher’s Talks with Lavrov in Moscow
On August 25, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Following the conversation, Gallagher reiterated Pope Leo XIV’s call to end Russia’s war against Ukraine and the suffering of civilians.
The conflict cannot be resolved through military means… Let us be clear: this war must end. After more than four years of hostility, the conflict continues to expand, the number of victims is rising, many families remain separated, and the material and psychological consequences of the conflict affect millions of people in Ukraine and Russia.
– Paul Richard Gallagher
Paul Richard Gallagher’s Visits to Ukraine
The trip to Moscow was Gallagher’s first since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. At the same time, the archbishop has visited Ukraine on several occasions.
In 2022, he visited Bucha and Irpin. In July 2026, Paul Richard Gallagher also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.