Today, the cardinal president of the CEI has embarked on a new visit to Russia as part of the mission entrusted to him by the Pope last year. An expected meeting with authorities is on the agenda. The Vatican Press Office states that the trip aims to assess further efforts to promote the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families and the exchange of prisoners, in hopes of achieving the much-desired peace. The first meeting was held with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
By: Salvatore Cernuzio – Vatican News
Publication Date:
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, returns for the second time to Moscow after sixteen months to carry out a new mission in the framework of the Holy See’s humanitarian initiative to find paths to peace for the “tormented” Ukraine. Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office, confirms this in a statement: “I confirm that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has begun a new visit to Moscow today as part of the mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis last year to meet with authorities and evaluate further efforts to promote the reunification of Ukrainian children and the exchange of prisoners, with the hope of achieving the much-needed peace.”
The cardinal’s first meeting in Moscow today was with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the two discussed “cooperation in the humanitarian sphere in the context of the conflict in Ukraine” and other international issues. The constructive development of dialogue between Russia and the Vatican was also emphasized in the same statement.
The June 2023 mission
Zuppi had previously visited Moscow on June 28 and 29, 2023, following his visit to Kyiv. He had a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky before subsequent trips to Washington and Beijing. During his 48 hours in Russia, he met with Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. The Vatican described this meeting as “fruitful,” highlighting the humanitarian initiatives discussed to facilitate a peaceful solution.
Discussion with the Commissioner for Children’s Rights
He then held separate institutional meetings, first with Yuri Ushakov, an assistant to President Vladimir Putin for foreign policy affairs, and later with Maria Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights. The focus was on humanitarian aspects, stressing the need for reaching the desired peace. Specific humanitarian issues concerning the over 19,000 Ukrainian minors forcibly brought to Russia were addressed in these meetings, reflecting President Zelensky’s plea for assistance from the Holy See.
Diplomatic Efforts Results
Thanks to Zuppi’s involvement, a number of Ukrainian children transferred to Russia by occupying forces were able to return home. In recent months, the Vice President of the Ukrainian Parliament, Olena Kondratiuk, publicly expressed gratitude to the cardinal, citing the significant results of the Holy See’s “humanitarian diplomacy.” The release of two Redemptorist priests in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine was also mentioned, a success for which Zelensky expressed gratitude to the Holy See for its efforts.
Respect for Human Rights
Thus, the trip initiated a “slow” mechanism, as Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has mentioned. Parolin had a video conference with Tatiana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation in September. During the meeting, Cardinal Parolin reiterated the need to safeguard fundamental human rights as stated in International Conventions amidst the conflict.
