Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, began a three-day visit to Russia today.
Archbishop Gallagher is scheduled to meet with Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; and Yuri Ushakov, the Assistant to the President of Russia for Foreign Policy.
On the final day of his visit, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with clergy and religious, celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, and meet with the nation’s bishops.
Last month, Archbishop Gallagher visited Ukraine and hailed Ukrainians’ faith and courage. During the visit, the Russian military launched a missile and drone attack that struck the neighborhood of the apostolic nunciature, where the prelate was staying.