The Vatican is preparing a meeting between Pope Francis and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to take place this Saturday, according to Holy See sources quoted by EFE.
So far there has been no official confirmation on when or where the gathering will take place, which will take place a few weeks after Francis received Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal in Rome.
Zelensky will also meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, according to information released this Friday by his spokesman to AFP.
In recent weeks, the Vatican has become involved in peace efforts in Ukraine, especially after its secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, assured that the mission announced by Pope Francis to end the conflict “continues” and revealed that “there is news”. , but of a “reserved character”.
Regarding the initial denials by Kiev and Moscow after the pope’s announcement about the mission’s existence, Parolin specified: “They didn’t deny it, they said they didn’t know anything, but later there were contacts in which it was clarified by both sides that it was a misunderstanding”.
Earlier, on the return flight from his recent trip to Budapest, the pope said: “I am ready to do what needs to be done [pela paz na Ucrânia]. In addition, a mission is now underway, but it is not yet public. Let’s see how… If it’s public, I’ll tell.”
For its part, the Holy See’s press service explained that during the meetings held by the Ukrainian Prime Minister in Rome “various topics related to the war in Ukraine were discussed, with a special focus on the humanitarian issue and efforts to restore peace” .
After the meeting, Shmyhal said in a press conference that he discussed with Francis a peace plan outlined by President Zelensky and “the possible measures the Vatican could take to help achieve peace”.
“I have asked the help of the Vatican and the Pope for the return of the children forcibly taken by Russia and I have also invited the Pope to visit Ukraine,” he said at the Foreign Press Association’s headquarters in Rome. .
Zelensky also invited the pope to visit the country, but Francis has always replied that he will if he can also go to Moscow.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.2 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
At least 18 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented as confirmed since the start of the war, which today entered its 441st day, 8,791 civilian deaths and 14,815 wounded, underlining that these numbers
Source: DN
