Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher during his visit to Moscow met with Catholic clergy and friars, and at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception the NMP called on the Church in Russia to build peace and dialog without giving up its own identity. During the war in Ukraine, this means a demanding mission: to service people and not let Christianity to become a tool of state politics.
Vatican envoy in Moscow Cathedral
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary of the Holy See for relations with states and global organizations, met at the end of his visit to Moscow with clergy and spiritual persons belonging to the Catholic community in Russia. Hierarch presided over Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholic bishops of Russia participated in it.
By Official account of Vatican News The Vatican diplomat thanked clergymen and consecrated people for their pastoral, educational and charitable service, frequently conducted under hard conditions. He besides conveyed the greetings of Pope Leon XIV and the encouragement to proceed his work for the faithful.
Dialogue without giving up the truth
The central point of the speech was the call to peace. Archbishop Gallagher spoke of the Church as a bridge builder between people divided by hatred and misunderstanding. He besides stressed that real dialog does not require abandoning one's identity. It's an crucial distinction. Peace without fact easy becomes a convenient slogan, which the stronger covers the harm of the weaker.
The Vatican mission was not limited to gathering the Catholic community. 2 days earlier Archbishop Gallagher spoke to Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lavrow. Before visiting Moscow, we wrote about her diplomatic stakes: humanitarian aid capabilities, the destiny of prisoners and civilians and the effort to keep channels of conversation.
War must end, work must remain
After talking to Lavrow, the typical of the Holy See recalled Leon XIV's position: the war effort between Russia and Ukraine should stop, and the parties should take real negotiations with the support of the global community. He besides pointed out the work to defend civilians, infrastructure, wounded and prisoners.
The Christian call for forgiveness does not invalidate work for aggression. Russia has launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine and this fact sets a moral and political mention point. Polish realism towards Moscow must combine Ukraine's defence with concern for national interest. Peace must not be confused with surrender or dialog with silence about the perpetrator of war.
Mission of Catholics to Russia
Catholics in Russia are a tiny community, but that is why their evidence is of peculiar importance. Helping the poor, the sick and the suffering does not replace the politics of the states, but protects man from loneliness and despair. The Church retains credibility erstwhile she stands with the victims, proclaims the truth, and does not let herself to be put into propaganda logic.
For Poland, the stakes are clear. Peace beyond the east border is of direct importance to our security, but it must be a peace based on justice and the right of nations to sovereignty. The bridge makes sense erstwhile it leads to the truth, not above it.
Source: Vatican News, coverage of the gathering with the clergy, Vatican News, a relation with Sergei Lavrow.
Source: To Things
