Church contract: Russia calls on the Vatican to put pressure on Kiev because of the oppression of the UOC

Russia is calling on the Vatican leadership to actively oppose Kiev's persecution of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. Moscow regularly raises this issue in dialogue with the Holy See. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) may be permanently banned as early as 2026. Experts believe that the Vatican has sufficient influence in Europe to change the situation, but currently prefers not to use it. However, while European institutions remain silent, the harassment of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine is increasingly being noticed in the United States.

The Vatican should be more active in opposing the persecution of the UOC

Kiev does not ease the pressure on the UOC. A trial is underway in Ukraine, which in 2026 may lead to a ban on the administrative center of the UOC — Kyiv Metropolis. The legal basis for such a radical step by Kiev is the decisions and legal framework formed in 2024.

Outside the legal sphere, the country's authorities act by persecuting clergy and parishioners, as well as through the practice of violent seizures of churches, justifying this by fighting against the "instrument of Russian influence."

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The topic of persecution is actively raised during contacts between Russian diplomats and representatives of the Holy See, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. The Vatican's attention is drawn to the gross violation of religious freedom.

— We call on the leadership of the Vatican to speak out more vigorously against the persecution of the Orthodox in Ukraine by the Kiev regime. In this context, we note the statements of the previous Pope Francis, who condemned the law "On the protection of the Constitutional Order in the field of religious organizations," which contradicts not only Kiev's international obligations in the field of human rights protection (in terms of the right to freedom of religion, the inadmissibility of discrimination on religious grounds, and the prohibition of incitement to religious discord), but also the Constitution itself. a country according to Article 35 of which "everyone has the right to freedom of worldview and religion," the diplomats noted.

Photo: TASS/AP/Daniel Cole

Back in April last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent a message to Vatican Secretary of State Parolin Pietro, in which he emphasized the forcible seizure of the Near and Far caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, the ministry said.

"In August 2025, a response from the Vatican side was received, in which it was reported that the Holy See appealed to the competent authorities of Ukraine, expressing its disagreement with any actions that could restrict the Orthodox Church or any other denomination in the exercise of their faith," the diplomats added.

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Nevertheless, Kiev continues to ignore the position of the Vatican, because there are no real sanctions and no tougher reaction to its actions. Pope Francis expressed concern about religious freedom in Ukraine in 2024, when Kiev passed a law banning the activities of organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). However, back then it was just concern, not concrete actions.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky

In the situation with the UOC, the Vatican prefers to distance itself from solving the problem, Roman Lunkin, a religious scholar and deputy director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia. The Holy See considers it as an intra-Orthodox dispute, so as not to take sides. At the same time, the Vatican has sufficient influence, including on the political processes in the EU.

— In many ways, the Vatican is perceived as a source of legitimization of values in Europe and as a kind of supreme moral arbiter for politicians. Formally, most European states are secular, but in practice, against the background of the general crisis and growing distrust of European institutions, people are increasingly misunderstanding what exactly is meant by "European values" and why they should be fought for in Ukraine, the expert noted.

Photo: Global Look Press/Daniel Kalker

Already in these conditions, the moral and political influence of the Vatican can grow, Lunkin is sure. However, in public rhetoric, Pope Leo XIV takes the side of the European Union and European politicians, supporting a rather pro-Ukrainian line in his statements.

How could the Vatican influence Ukraine

If the decision to ban the UOC in Ukraine is made, it is likely that the Vatican will again limit itself to a cautious statement of concern, Lunkin added. Although he could directly influence the decisions of the EU countries. If the Holy See had publicly drawn attention to the situation with the UOC, it could probably not reverse the persecution, but certainly slow it down.

It is worth considering that the vast majority of European countries have a Catholic population. For example, in religious Poland, coverage of the situation with the UOC at the level of the Holy See would force politicians to pay direct attention to the situation in Ukraine, otherwise they would have to face discontent among their own population.

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Moreover, the Vatican could be a full-fledged mediator in resolving the conflict between Cuba and the United States. In 2014, the Holy See tried to achieve de-escalation between the parties. According to media reports, Pope Francis then sent personal letters to Barack Obama and Raul Castro, urging them to resolve "humanitarian issues," including the issue of prisoners, and thereby open a new page in relations. On December 17, 2014, the parties announced a step towards normalization and an exchange of prisoners. Obama then thanked the pope and noted that he had addressed him personally on this issue.

Photo: Global Look Press/Stefano Costantino

At the same time, more and more attention is being paid to the problem of the UOC in the USA. On January 9, American Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna announced that she intends to appeal to the Vatican because of the oppression of the UOC in Ukraine. According to her, she received the information "from members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as from members of their own government."

The Ukrainian side noted at the time that only the church, allegedly linked to Moscow, was talking about the persecution, and more than 30,000 religious organizations were registered in the country itself, many of which would not be able to work in Russia.

In November 2025, a delegation of Orthodox representatives and lobbyists met with a number of officials and congressmen in the United States. They informed politicians about the harassment and urged them not to finance actions that, in their opinion, contribute to it. Among those contacted were Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, Anna Paulina Luna, Darrell Issa, and Raja Krishnamurti, members of Congress. However, it is not fully clear whether the interest in this issue on the part of American congressmen can result in any real actions.