While Bishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, was holding a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, another Catholic official landed in Moscow: CIA Director John Ratcliffe – who reportedly went to Moscow to warn Russia against support for Iran and activities in Europe. Vatican diplomacy and American intelligence crossed paths in an effort to restore some balance to a chaotic world order and establish dialogue as a basis for viable peace.

On Tuesday, August 25, long-term diplomatic planning and last-minute intelligence briefings came together in the Russian capital. Moscow became the meeting place where the Vatican’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace and American global interests in foreign affairs converged. Russian television transmitted the beginning and end of the meeting between Bishop Gallagher and Minister Lavrov live. The introductory statements at the negotiating table and the final remarks at the press conference were carefully prepared in advance and presumably agreed upon.

Both sides wanted more than just media coverage of the meeting; they wanted to demonstrate that, despite its difficulties, dialogue is still possible..

Tomorrow’s meeting between Archbishop P.R. Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov could be crucial to resolving the war between Russia and Ukraine diplomatically.

August 24 marks the start of Archbishop P.R. Gallagher’s five-day visit to Russia. Gallagher is the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. This is the first official visit by a Holy See Secretariat of State representative since the start of the war in Ukraine, where Gallagher recently traveled from August 13 to 16.

On Tuesday, August 25, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov. A ministry spokeswoman outlined the main topics to be addressed during the meeting, which include cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Holy See, as well as the situation regarding the war in Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Holy See has maintained a consistent position of condemning Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine, urging the resolution of underlying issues through diplomacy, and committing to maintaining open channels of dialogue with the countries involved..