The article analyses the legal acts of the Russian Empire throughout the period of its existence (1721–1917), published in the Complete Collection of Laws and in the Code of Laws on state regulation of pastoral activities of Roman Catholic priests. Retrospective evaluation of legal documents allows to determine some general tendencies of Russian laws on Catholic pastoral care: to allow, but only to selected priests; freely, but in certain places; not to allow to act among other Christians; to support partially, but strictly controlled.