Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis' special envoy for Ukraine, met in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to the Vatican, the purpose of the cardinal's visit is “to continue efforts to return Ukrainian children to their families and exchange prisoners.”
The Pope's special envoy for Ukraine, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who began his visit to Moscow on Monday, met with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, RAI television reported. The Italian dignitary returned to the Russian capital after 16 months.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi arrived in Moscow “as part of the mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis last year to meet with the authorities and consider further efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families and exchange prisoners – in view of achieving the peace so hoped for.”
This concerns Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia since 2022, the beginning of the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.
The envoy of Pope Francis met with Sergei Lavrov in MoscowPAP/EPA/RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi arrived in Moscow three days after the pope met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican. After this audience, the Ukrainian leader announced that one of the main topics of his conversation with the Pope was the return of prisoners of war.
– We are counting on the help of the Holy See in returning Ukrainians in Russian captivity to their homes – Zelensky said.
Previously, Cardinal Zuppi visited Moscow in June 2023.
Matteo Zuppi PAP/EPA
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT