Correspondence between Leo XIII and Emperor Alexander III of Russia as a Source for the History of the Holy See–Russia Relations in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Besschetnova, Elena

doi:10.31857/S013038640009145-7

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Correspondence between Leo XIII and Emperor Alexander III of Russia as a Source for the History of the Holy See–Russia Relations in the Second Half of the 19th Century

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Correspondence between Leo XIII and Emperor Alexander III of Russia as a Source for the History of the Holy See–Russia Relations in the Second Half of the 19th Century

PII

S013038640009145-7-1

DOI

10.31857/S013038640009145-7

Publication type

Article

Status

Published

Authors

Elena Besschetnova

Affiliation: National Research University "Higher School of Economics"
Address: Russian Federation,

Journal name

Novaia i noveishaia istoriia

Edition

Issue 3

Pages

56-69

Abstract

For the Russian Empire, the Catholic question was one of the most important domestic issues throughout the 19th century; it was the question of building relations with its western regions, primarily with Poland, in which the Catholic clergy was the driving force of the struggle for political independence of the country. In this context, in the second half of the 19th century the Government of the Russian Empire considered maintaining a dialogue with the Holy See as a way to preserve stability in the Western regions of the Empire. Also, for Alexander III, this was a symbolic act illustrating Russia's course on demonstrating continuity with the Christian emperors of the Roman Empire. This should emphasize the special position and role of Russia in Europe. The image of Russia as a Christian empire, its course on the preservation of traditional values was contrasted with the image of the liberal- egalitarian Western Europe, which was seized by revolutionary sentiments during this period.

A unique historical source on the foreign policy of the Vatican in Eastern Europe in the second half of the nineteenth century and the Holy See-Russian relations is the correspondence of Pope Leo XIII and Russian Emperor Alexander III. From 1881 to 1894, Pope Leo XIII sent about ten official letters and to each of them received an official response from the Emperor.

The main materials reporting the history of relations supported by Leo XIII with Alexander III, as well as with Grand Prince Vladimir Alexandrovich Romanov, are kept in the Apostolic Vatican Archive (sections “Spoglio Leone XIII” and “Segr. Stato: parte moderna”), the Affari Ecclesiastici Straordinari fund, the Russian Empire Foreign Policy Archive (funds Vatican and Chancery), Russian State Historical Archive.

Keywords

The Holy See, Russian Empire, ecumenism, Russian and The Holy See diplomatic dialogue, Christian Unity, Catholicism in Russia

Received

17.03.2020

Publication date

19.06.2020

Number of characters

41829

Cite

GOST	Besschetnova E. Correspondence between Leo XIII and Emperor Alexander III of Russia as a Source for the History of the Holy See–Russia Relations in the Second Half of the 19th Century // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2020. – Issue 3 C. 56-69 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640009145-7-1 (circulation date: 20.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640009145-7
MLA	Besschetnova, Elena "Correspondence between Leo XIII and Emperor Alexander III of Russia as a Source for the History of the Holy See–Russia Relations in the Second Half of the 19th Century." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 3 (2020):56-69. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640009145-7
APA	Besschetnova E. (2020). Correspondence between Leo XIII and Emperor Alexander III of Russia as a Source for the History of the Holy See–Russia Relations in the Second Half of the 19th Century. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (3), pp.56-69 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640009145-7

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