Russia in Eastern Vatican Politics: Pope Leo XIII's Project

Abstract

The relationship between the Vatican and Russia has been the subject of research by more than one generation of scientists representing various scientific schools. Of particular interest was the pontificate of Leo XIII. The new emphasis of the foreign policy of the Curia, initiated by him, provided for the establishment of friendly relations with the Russian Empire. In this regard, the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences intensified the study of the history of the papacy. In the end, she published a number of interesting documents, edited by E.F. Shmurla (for the period from the creation of the centralized Russian state until the death of Peter I), A. Turgenev (2 volumes, 1841-1842), A. Popov (1845-1850). In Soviet historiography, the study of the history of Vatican-Russian relations in the nineteenth century. engaged M. Sheiman, E. Adamov. On the basis of documentary materials, a monograph of the German scientist E. Winter was constructed. The documents published by the authors have not lost their significance for the modern researcher. Their impartial analysis opens up the possibility of a new understanding of the Eastern policy of the Apostolic See, the place and role of Catholics of the Orthodox rite, in particular Ukrainian Greek Catholics in the context of these relations.