Apostolic Nunciature to Russia

Apostolic Nunciature in Moscow

The Apostolic Nunciature to Russia is the diplomatic mission of the Holy See in the Russian Federation. It is located at 7/37 Vadkovsky Lane (Russian: Вадковский переулок, 7/37) in the Tverskoy District of Moscow.

Current Nuncio is Ivan Jurkovič; he was appointed on 19 February 2011.

History

The Soviet Union and Holy See established official relations 15 March 1990. On 5 September 1991 the Holy See recognized Russia as a successor to the USSR. Russia and the Holy See upgraded their diplomatic relations to full ambassadorial relations in 2009. The increased level of relations followed improvements in the working relationship between the Holy See and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow. Prior to 2009, Russian officials remained wary of Catholic influence in Ukraine and tended to treat the Vatican as an international organization, and not a state in traditional sense.

The building on the corner of Vadkovsky Lane and Tikhvinskaya Street, former Markin house, was completed in 1903 by architect Pyotr Kharko (born 1871, year of death unknown). It was listed on the register of memorial buildings in May 2007. The building mixes traditional eclectic and Art Nouveau decoration, with notable wrought iron balcony grille and butterfly ornament on the main doors. In 2005-2008 an adjacent lot was developed into a 17-floor housing project, causing concerns about probable damage to the Nunciature building.

See also

• Holy See–Russia relations
• List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See
• Diplomatic missions in Russia
• Edmund A. Walsh S.J.
• Michel d'Herbigny S.J.
• Augustin Bea S.J.