The Pope met with Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican on Monday and both discussed Francis’ efforts for peace in Ukraine, a Vatican statement said.
Ivan Soltanovsky, a career diplomat, today presented his credentials to the head of the Catholic Church.
The meeting discussed in particular “the mission of the Pope’s Special Envoy for Peace in Ukraine, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, which aims to solve certain humanitarian problems,” the new Russian ambassador told the official Russian news agency Tass.
According to the diplomat, it was agreed to “maintain an honest and open dialogue with the Holy See, traditionally based on mutual respect.”
The Pope appointed Cardinal Zuppi to head a peace mission aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. In this context, the Italian cardinal traveled to Kiev, Moscow, Beijing and Washington, where he met North American President Joe Biden.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hinted last week that the cardinal would return to Moscow.
“Joint efforts with the Vatican, from where your envoy will be sent again, continue (…). “We are ready to meet everyone, we are ready to talk to everyone,” Lavrov added during a round table, quoted by Tass news agency.
Pope Francis has launched numerous appeals for peace in Ukraine so far without success and regularly prays for the victims of the conflict.
Source: DN
