Cardinal Zuppi visits Moscow as papal envoy to seek peace in Ukraine
Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi begins a visit to Moscow as part of the mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis to seek a path to peace in Ukraine and facilitate the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families and the exchange of prisoners of war.
By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace in Ukraine began his second visit to the Russian capital Moscow on Monday.
The pope named Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, as his special envoy in June 2023.
According to Matteo Bruni, director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Cardinal Zuppi’s visit is part of his mission as envoy of the Pope.
The Italian-born cardinal will meet with Russian authorities and “assess additional efforts to facilitate the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families and the exchange of prisoners, with a view to achieving the much-hoped-for peace,” Bruni said. .
Previous visits as part of the peace mission
Cardinal Zuppi began his peace mission with a visit to Ukraine on June 5-6, 2023, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other senior officials.
The Cardinal then traveled to Russia from June 28 to 30, 2023, where he met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, as well as government officials, including Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Affairs, and Maria Lvova-Belova, curator. to the President of the Russian Federation for the rights of the child.
From July 17 to 19, 2023, he visited Washington, DC, and met with U.S. President Joe Biden, delivering a letter from Pope Francis.
Cardinal Zuppi also visited Beijing from September 13 to 15, 2023, where he met with Li Hui, China’s Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
