The Chinese government confirmed on Wednesday that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, charged by Pope Francis with promoting peace in Ukraine, will “soon visit” the Asian country.
The Holy See announced on Tuesday that the cardinal would be in China between now and Friday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a news conference that the Chinese government’s representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, will meet with Zuppi, although she gave no further details on the papal representative’s agenda.
Li visited Ukraine in May, where he said “all sides must create the conditions to end the war” and “start peace talks.”
Mao said China “has always been committed to promoting peace” and was “willing to play a constructive role” in easing tensions.
According to the Vatican, Zuppi’s visit represents “a new step in the Pope’s desired mission to support humanitarian measures and seek paths to a just peace.”
Last May, Pope Francis set up a peace mission to look for initiatives that “contribute to reducing tensions in the conflict in Ukraine” and entrusted it to Zuppi, a well-known mediator and archbishop of the Italian city of Bologna.
In recent months, Zuppi traveled to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky and then flew to Moscow, where he was received by the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Policy Affairs, Yuri Ushakov.
China and Vatican City have no official diplomatic relations and there are disputes over the appointment of bishops in the Asian country.
Source: DN
