Catholic Church in Abkhazia

The Holy See does not have diplomatic relations with Abkhazia, but has enjoyed two high level visits from the apostolic nuncio.

In the second half of the 19th century, after the uprisings in Poland, Polish exiles immigrated and founded numerous Catholic communities in Abkhazia.

After the Abkhaz War, in 1993, Abkhazian Catholics could no longer be served by priests from Georgia and were transferred to the pastoral care of Diocese of Saint Clement at Saratov.

Bogdan Severin of Apostles Simon and Thaddeus Parish of made period visits to Sukhumi from Sochi, providing pastoral guidance and charitable assistance to local Catholics.

Due to partial and disputed international and canonical status of Abkhazia, the Catholics are served by the Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus.

Papal nuncio Claudio Gugerotti visited to Abkhazia twice – in October 2005 and in January 2006 – to meet with government representatives.