Concluding his official visit to Moscow, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, met with local clergy and religious before celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception alongside Russia’s Catholic bishops. During his address, the Archbishop expressed deep gratitude to the local community for their pastoral, educational, and charitable service—often carried out under challenging conditions—and conveyed warm greetings from Pope Leo XIV.
Emphasizing the core teachings of the Second Vatican Council, Archbishop Gallagher reminded those gathered that every Christian shares a universal call to holiness and charity. He highlighted that the Church’s growth relies on authentic witnesses whose lives visibly reflect the Gospel they preach. “Where communion and unity reign,” he noted, “witness becomes credible and fruitful.” Drawing on pastoral insights, he urged consecrated leaders to journey closely alongside their communities—leading, supporting, and ensuring no one is left behind while cultivating a culture of mutual forgiveness.
Archbishop Gallagher also stressed the vital importance of open dialogue with other Christian communities, different faiths, and the broader society. Citing Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas and the papal motto In Illo uno unum, he explained that meaningful dialogue requires holding firmly to one’s identity while respectfully welcoming the truth and gifts found in others.
Finally, the Vatican diplomat called on the Catholic Church in Russia to embrace its mission as a builder of bridges and a humble, persevering peacemaker. Defining a bridge-builder as someone who recognizes deep divisions and hatred yet refuses to accept them as insurmountable, Archbishop Gallagher concluded by asking for the intercession of the Mother of God to help foster a world grounded in love, justice, and peace.