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.

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.