Vatican Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Visits Kyiv

The Vatican’s envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, arrived in Kyiv for a three-day visit aimed at expressing the Pope’s solidarity and strengthening the Holy See’s humanitarian initiatives. According to Vatican News, the cardinal held a series of meetings and participated in official events, calling for the establishment of a “just peace” in Ukraine.

As part of his visit, Cardinal Zuppi took part in the celebration of the Day of the Baptism of Kievan Rus’ (according to the Gregorian calendar) and Ukrainian Statehood Day, where he laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance for the Fallen. Cardinal “offered a prayer, addressing Saint Vladimir with a request to enlighten the minds and hearts of the leaders of both countries, so as to open paths to justice and peace.”

The humanitarian component of the mission continues the work begun in 2023. The main focus is on the exchange of prisoners of war, the return of deported children, and the search for those missing in action. Earlier, during his visit to the Lviv region, D’Zuppi visited a correctional facility where prisoners of war are being held and met with local officials to discuss further cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. The trip underscores the Vatican’s unwavering commitment to helping mitigate the consequences of the conflict and supporting the affected population.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that the Vatican and the Bulgarian government expressed their disagreement with the European Union’s plans to include the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in the 21st sanctions package. Diplomatic sources indicate that the EU’s initiative has encountered serious resistance from Rome and Sofia.