Pope Francis’ envoy to Ukraine, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, yesterday finished a “brief but intense” two-day visit to Kyiv, which included a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: CNA.
“The results of these talks, such as those with religious representatives, as well as the direct experience of the atrocious suffering of the Ukrainian people as a result of the ongoing war, will be brought to the Holy Father’s attention,” the Holy See Press Office said in a bulletin yesterday.
Cardinal Zuppi’s conversations “will undoubtedly be useful in assessing the steps to be taken both on the humanitarian level and in the search for paths to a just and lasting peace”, the bulletin said.
Yesterday morning, Cardinal Zuppi stopped to pray at Kyiv’s St Sophia Cathedral, a historic centre of Christianity.
He then met with Mr Zelenskyy and other political leaders. The meeting with the President was “very cordial” according to Avvenire, the newspaper published by the Italian Episcopal Conference.
Mr Zelenskyy, writing on the messaging internet service Telegram, said he and Cardinal Zuppi discussed the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian cooperation.
“Only joint efforts, diplomatic isolation, and pressure on Russia can bring a just peace on Ukrainian soil,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “I ask the Holy See to help implement the Ukrainian peace plan. Ukraine welcomes the willingness of other states and partners to find ways to peace, but since the war is on our territory the solution for achieving peace can only be Ukrainian.”
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Papal envoy to Ukraine meets with President Zelenskyy, concludes ‘intense’ visit (By Kevin Jones, CNA)
