Catholic Church in Russia


Catholic Church in Russia
Russian: Католическая церковь в России
TypeNational polity
ClassificationCatholic
OrientationSlavic Christianity, Latin
ScriptureBible
TheologyCatholic theology
GovernanceConference of Catholic Bishops of Russia
PopeLeo XIV
ChairmanClemens Pickel
Apostolic NuncioGiovanni d'Aniello
RegionRussia
LanguageEcclesiastical Latin, Church Slavonic, Russian
HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
Origin11th century
SeparationsRussian Orthodox Church
Official websitecatholic-russia.ru
Ethnic affiliation of Russia's Catholics (2012)
  1. Russians (47.1%)
  2. Germans (15.9%)
  3. Armenians (9.40%)
  4. Belarusians (4.90%)
  5. Ukrainians (4.80%)
  6. Koreans (2.70%)
  7. Kabardians (1.90%)
  8. Bashkirs (1.80%)
  9. Other (mainly Poles, Lithuanians, and Latvians) (11.5%)

The Catholic Church in Russia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The ecclesiastical province of the Latin Church in Russia consists of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow and its three suffragan dioceses: the Diocese of St. Clement in Saratov, the Diocese of St. Joseph in Irkutsk, and the Diocese of the Transfiguration in Novosibirsk. As of 2025, there were 396 parishes in Russia served by six bishops, 304 priests, and 338 nuns.

According to the 2016 Annuario Pontificio, there are approximately 773,000 Catholics in Russia, which is 0.5% of the total Russian population. However, a 2012 survey determined that there are approximately 240,000 Catholics in Russia (0.2% of the total Russian population), accounting for 7.2% of Germans, 1.8% of Armenians, 1.3% of Belarusians, and just under 1% of Bashkirs. The survey also found 45% of Catholics praying every day versus 17% of Eastern Orthodox. The Catholic Church in Russia has a shortage of Russian priests, with most priests being from other countries. Many parishes receive priests only once a month.