Michael Brooks
Russia is a secular state that provides for religious freedom and freedom of conscience. However, the Russian Orthodox Church acts as the de facto privileged religion of the state, with the right to decide which other religions are granted the right of registration. While the country has a long history of intertwining religion, mysticism, and statehood, the Russian Orthodox Church has also been a source of cultural and political tension, particularly with the Catholic Church. So, what percentage of Russia is Catholic?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in Russia | 0.1% - 1% |
| Number of Catholics in Russia | 140,000 - 50,000 to 60,000 |
| Number of Catholics in Moscow | 50,000 to 60,000 |
| Number of Catholic churches in the USSR in the late 1930s | 2 |
| Percentage of Russians identifying as Orthodox Christians | 41.1% - 50% - 67% |
| Percentage of Russians regularly attending Orthodox church services | 5% - 6% |
| Percentage of Russians identifying as atheists | 11% |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics make up less than 1% of Russia's population
Russia has a long and complex history with religion, with the Russian Orthodox Church historically acting as the de facto privileged religion of the state. While the constitution stipulates that the state is secular and provides for religious freedom, respect for freedom of religion by Russian authorities has declined in recent years, and the country has been accused of violating religious freedom.
The Catholic Church in Russia also faces challenges due to cultural identity. For many Russians, anti-Catholicism is deeply rooted in their national psyche, and they associate Catholicism with being inherently alien and hostile to Russia. This sentiment is reflected in the 1938 film "Aleksandr Nevski," which portrays Roman Catholicism as an integral part of German imperialism. Additionally, the Moscow Patriarchate has constructed a historical myth that Russia was always purely Orthodox, further contributing to the marginalization of Catholicism in the country.
Despite these challenges, relations between Catholics and Orthodox Christians in Russia have improved. Catholics and Orthodox Christians now live in peace and cooperate in addressing societal issues such as the crisis of morality, high levels of abortion and divorce, and a lack of social security. While there may still be theological disagreements, the two faiths have found common ground in their shared Christian identity.
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Catholicism is perceived as un-Russian
The Russian Orthodox Church has had a long conflict with Catholicism. Sources suggest that Catholicism is viewed as a heresy by the Russian Orthodox Church and is not considered indigenously Russian. The Russian Orthodox Church has been the de facto privileged religion in the state, with the power to decide which other religions can be granted registration. The Catholic Church has been forbidden to develop its own territorial jurisdictions.
The Russian Orthodox Church has been perceived as the glue consolidating the nation, accompanying the expansion of the Russian Empire in the 18th century. Czar Nicholas I's ideology proclaimed "Orthodoxy, autocracy, and nation" as its foundations. The dominance of the Russian Orthodox Church was sealed by law, and as the empire expanded to incorporate people of different religions, these religions were tolerated but forbidden from spreading among Russians.
The Russian philosopher Petr Chaadaev lamented the lack of Catholic influence on Russian history, and admired the papacy as a source of unity. The theologian Vladimir Solov’ev was attracted to the universal qualities of Catholicism, which he found lacking in Russian Orthodoxy. However, for pro-Catholic writers, the close ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state were problematic.
The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) found in 2025 that 67% of Russians identified as Orthodox Christians, while less than 1% were Catholic Christians. A 2012 survey determined that there are approximately 240,000 Catholics in Russia (0.2% of the total population).
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Catholics in Russia have faced persecution
Less than 1% of the population of Russia is Catholic. However, Catholics in Russia have a long history of facing persecution. During the reign of Nicholas I, Catholics in Russia endured a long period of persecution and suffering. The Polish insurrection of 1830 and 1831 intensified the persecution of Latin Catholics. In 1832, the Russian government asked the "Roman Ecclesiastical College" to reduce the number of convents, resulting in the closure of 202 out of 300 monasteries in the Diocese of Mohileff. The publication of Papal Bulls in Russia was also prohibited during this time.
In the 20th century, under communist rule, hundreds of Catholics were killed or jailed. Catholic clergy were accused of promoting the spirit of revolution and plotting revolts against the tsar. Many priests and nuns were imprisoned, executed, or sent to work camps. During Stalinist purges, Christian clergy were crucified on church doors or doused in water and left to freeze in winter.
Even today, Catholics in Russia continue to face challenges. The Ukrainian Catholic Church has been outlawed, and its bishops imprisoned. Priests celebrating Mass have been arrested and punished. Russia has been designated as a country of particular concern by the State Department due to its repression of religious freedom and believers within its borders.
The head of Russia's Catholic Church, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, welcomed a book documenting the persecution of Catholics under communist rule. The book, titled "In Your Wounds Hide Me," details the imprisonment or execution of 317 Catholic priests and laypeople. Despite these challenges, many Orthodox faithful remain optimistic about Christianity's future in Russia.
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The Russian Orthodox Church is the privileged religion of the state
The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the largest autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches in the world, with a membership of over 90 million. It was introduced to the East Slavic state of Kievan Rus by Greek missionaries from Byzantium in the 9th century. In 988, Grand Prince Vladimir was baptised and began to Christianise his people. This act was followed by the acceptance of Christianity as the state religion.
The dominance of the Russian Orthodox Church was solidified during the expansion of the Russian Empire in the 18th century. Czar Nicholas I's ideology proclaimed "Orthodoxy, autocracy, and nation" as its foundations. Until 1905, only the Russian Orthodox Church could engage in missionary activity to convert non-Orthodox people, and apostasy was treated as an offence punishable by law. Catholicism, Islam and other religions were tolerated only among outsider peoples and forbidden from spreading among Russians.
The Russian Orthodox Church was drastically weakened in 1922 when the Renovated (Living) Church, a reformist movement backed by the Soviet secret police, broke away. During the Soviet era, the church vacillated between periods of repression and support from the state. In 1943, Joseph Stalin reversed policies towards religion, and Russian Orthodoxy underwent a resurrection with the election of a new patriarch and the opening of theological schools.
Today, the Russian Orthodox Church continues to be perceived as a consolidating force in the nation. While the number of weekly churchgoers remains small, the church maintains a close alliance with the government and is seen as a marker of national identity.
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Catholicism is tolerated in Russia, but cannot spread among Russians
Russia has a long and complex history with Catholicism, and while it is tolerated in the country, it has not been considered indigenously Russian and has faced significant challenges and restrictions over the centuries.
Historically, the Russian Church was dominated by the clergy of Constantinople, who held views that diverged from Catholic doctrine. Metropolitan Nicephorus I (1103-1121) considered Catholicism heretical, a view that became standard in the Russian Church. Russian canonical documents from the 12th century refer to Catholics as pagans and prohibited any relations with them. Despite efforts by Catholic missionaries to spread their faith in Russia, the country was already largely lost to Catholicism.
During the Soviet era (1922-1991), Catholicism, like other religions, faced severe persecution. Many Catholics lost their lives, were imprisoned, or were forced to emigrate. By the end of the 1930s, there were only two functioning Catholic churches in the USSR, primarily serving French expatriates. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the number of Catholics in Russia was estimated to be around 500,000, but this number has since declined due to emigration and an aging population.
Today, Catholicism continues to have a small presence in Russia, with approximately 140,000 Catholics in the country as of 2017, comprising less than 0.1% of the total population. While the Russian constitution stipulates that the state is secular and provides for religious freedom, respect for freedom of religion by Russian authorities has been called into question. The Russian Orthodox Church acts as the de facto privileged religion, influencing which other religions are granted registration and territorial jurisdiction. Catholicism, while tolerated, has been restricted from spreading among ethnic Russians, and Catholic churches have faced challenges in registering and operating in the country.
The small number of Catholics in Russia is also partly due to historical events, such as the downfall of the Romanovs and the rise of Lenin, which disrupted the development of a Russian Greek Catholic community. Additionally, the ethnic principle, which ties religions to specific ethnic groups, can inflate the numbers of larger religious groups while excluding smaller groups like Catholics.
In summary, while Catholicism is tolerated in Russia, it has historically faced significant opposition and restrictions. The Russian Orthodox Church holds a dominant position, and Catholicism has been unable to spread widely among ethnic Russians due to various political, cultural, and religious factors.
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Frequently asked questions
Less than 1% of Russia's population is Catholic.
There are around 140,000 Catholics in Russia.
There are around 50,000 to 60,000 Catholics in Moscow.
The predominant religion in Russia is Orthodox Christianity, with 41.1% of the population adhering to the Russian Orthodox Church.
