During a bilateral meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, August 25, the Holy See Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Accompanying Archbishop Gallagher was Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giovanni d’Aniello. The hour-long discussion focused on finding common ground regarding international issues, addressing the needs of the Catholic community in Russia, and furthering humanitarian initiatives aimed at fostering a path toward peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Following their meeting, Archbishop Gallagher reiterated Pope Leo XIV’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the initiation of genuine, internationally supported negotiations. Emphasizing that the conflict cannot be resolved by military means, the Vatican diplomat stressed the urgency of creating conditions for diplomatic engagement. He called on both Russia and Ukraine to demonstrate goodwill and adhere strictly to international and humanitarian law regarding civilians, infrastructure, prisoners of war, and the wounded.
Declaring that “this war must end,” Archbishop Gallagher highlighted the steadily rising casualties and civilian suffering. He urged both sides to cease fighting and build future relations free from past grievances in order to deprive hatred of momentum. Minister Lavrov commended the Holy See’s dedication to peace and expressed appreciation for the open dialogue, describing the meeting as highly constructive and agreeing on the need to expand cooperation on humanitarian efforts.
Archbishop Gallagher noted that concrete progress in humanitarian aid is critical to alleviating suffering and rebuilding minimal trust between the conflicting parties, citing Cardinal Zuppi’s upcoming mission to Russia as part of these ongoing efforts. Beyond government meetings, Archbishop Gallagher highlighted the role of local churches in reconciliation and discussed the pastoral needs of the Russian Catholic community. Later that evening, he met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk from the Moscow Patriarchate to discuss ongoing inter-church dialogue and regional matters.