Catholicism is the largest trend in Christianity, uniting the entire Western civilization. The choice of Orthodoxy in 988 forever predetermined the cultural and political confrontation between Russia and Catholic Europe. However, how could history have changed if Russia had followed the Western path?
At the crossroads
It must be said that in 988, Catholicism and Orthodoxy did not yet exist, these two movements were the One Church. The Greek and Roman rites, of course, were different, but the Patriarchs of Constantinople recognized the Pope as the head of the Church and spiritual guide over themselves.
The reason for the conflict was the political confrontation of Byzantium with the Western powers. This opposition led to the opposition of the Churches. The final split occurred in 1054 due to a dispute between Patriarch Michael and Pope Leo IX over influence in southern Italy.
When Prince Vladimir chose a religion, he, first of all, paid attention to the strength of the state, which represents this religion. Byzantium in this respect looked more powerful than the rest. When the Church split into East and West, Russia thus remained on the side of the East.
However, Russia could well abandon the Orthodox faith. And before the rejection of paganism, and after the Rusichs quite successfully fought with the Byzantines. Perhaps, after one of the large-scale wars, the Byzantine patriarchs and emperors did not want to have the same faith as the “Russian barbarians” and would excommunicate them from the Orthodox Church. In this case, the Pope would not have refused to give Russia religious protection.
What would happen to Russia in that case?
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The Rusichi often fought with the Byzantines, so that Prince Vladimir could have chosen Western Christianity to fight them.
European state
Russia becomes an equal part of Western civilization. Instead of the Cyrillic alphabet, the Latin alphabet appears. Architecture, culture, education, the vector of domestic and foreign policy are changing.
The order of succession to the throne is controlled from Rome. The fear of being excommunicated from the Church avoids internecine wars. To fight the nomads, knightly orders were created, which receive material and military support from other Catholic countries.
Russia, together with the West, takes part in the Crusades. After the fall of Byzantium, the Orthodox churches fell into decay and entered into religious unions with Rome, thereby returning to a single Christianity. Nevertheless, territorial wars with Catholic countries still continue, albeit with a lesser degree of aggression.
Similar temples and churches would be built all over Russia. The photo shows the main Catholic cathedral in Russia, located in Moscow.
Russian reconquista
Mongol conquests still happen. However, the yoke fell much earlier. The conquest of Russian lands is similar to the Spanish crusades (reconquista) against the Arabs.
Russian armies receive a constant stream of knights and volunteers from all over Europe. Continuous offensive wars undermine the power of the Golden Horde, and all of its territories have been part of Russia in the XIV century. Mongols and other nomadic peoples on its territory become Catholics. The further conquest of Siberia, the Far East and North America is the inevitable fate of the Russian conquistadors.
Catholic Russia
Under Catholicism, Russia would have remained the same as it is now, with all its achievements and greatness. Perhaps only ideas about legality and human rights would have changed. Perhaps Russians would have a higher standard of living, like in Poland, France or the Scandinavian countries.
Most likely, the Russian Catholic Church would have some kind of autonomy - after all, Russia is too big for permanent control from Rome. However, our country never loses contact with European countries, maintaining close cultural and religious contacts with them.