Holy See–Russia relations

Holy See–Russia relations (Russian: Российско-Ватиканские отношения) are the bilateral relations between the Holy See and Russia. The Holy See has an Apostolic Nunciature in Moscow, and Russia has an embassy to the Holy See located in Rome.

Holy See–Russia relations

Holy See	Russia

As the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest organization of Eastern Orthodoxy, Holy See–Russia relations partly reflect the relations between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Historically, the Vatican has sought to balance its goals of trying to bring the Russian Orthodox into communion with Rome while maintaining good relations with the Russian government to improve conditions for the Catholic Church in Russia.

Since Vladimir Putin became president of Russia in 1999, he has met with each recent pope (John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis) at least once, and has visited Vatican City six times.^[1]

Ecumenical relations

Holy See–Russia relations are largely linked to ecumenical relations with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Relationship before the 1917 revolution

Main article: Pope Pius IX and Russia

Pope Pius IX, who faced his own problems with revolutionary movements in his Church State, first tried to position himself in the middle, strongly opposing revolutionary and violent opposition against the Russian authorities and appealing to them for more Church freedom.

Era of the Soviet Union

Main articles: Holy See–Soviet Union relations and Anti-Catholicism in the Soviet Union

See also: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the Soviet Union, Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, and Operation Seat 12

John Paul II

There were mixed reactions in Russia on the papacy of Pope John Paul II. Many Russians were happy that John Paul had reduced the influence of atheistic Communism in Eastern Europe and contributed to a rebirth of Christianity in the country. However, many others did not like the fact that the fall of the Soviet Union had also provoked a loss of Russian influence in Eastern Europe. The fact that John Paul was Polish also caused tensions, since there is a historic ethno-religious rivalry between Poland and Russia.

After 1991

The Russian president Dmitry Medvedev who is Russian Orthodox,^[2] meeting Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City. Holy See–Russia relations partly reflect the larger Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church relations.

After 1991, the Russian government started a dialogue with the Vatican.

The Holy See and the Russian Federation established full diplomatic relations in December 2009 following the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev.^[3] President Vladimir Putin helped to arrange a meeting between the Pope and Patriarch Kirill at Havana, Cuba in 2016.^[4] The meeting also resulted in the two promulgating a joint declaration.^[5]

On 4 July 2019, however, it was revealed that tensions still remained between the Vatican and Russia, with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russo-Ukrainian war being the major causes of these tensions.^[6] Despite holding a "cordial" meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Vatican, Pope Francis stated it is unlikely that he will visit Russia unless Putin agrees to not include the Russian Orthodox Church in the invitation, which Putin stated would be unlikely as well.^[6] Pope Francis has also declared support for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which has expressed opposition to Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church and also the 2016 joint declaration.^[7][6]

See also

• Foreign relations of the Holy See
• Foreign relations of Russia
• Holy See–Soviet Union relations
• Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill
• Edmund A. Walsh S.J.
• Michel d'Herbigny S.J.
• Augustin Bea S.J.