The Vatican is involved in a peace mission to try to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Pope Francis said on Sunday, adding that it was also ready to help repatriate Ukrainian children taken to Russia or Russianoccupied land. “There is a mission in course now but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it,” the pope told reporters during a flight home after a three-day visit to Hungary. “I think that peace is always made by opening channels. You can never achieve peace through closure. … This is not easy.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Francis has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis, and has repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a broker between Kyiv and Moscow. His offer has so far failed to produce any breakthrough. Ukraine PM Denys Shmyhal met the pope at the Vatican on Thursday and said he had discussed a “peace formula” put forward by President Zelenskyy.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Francis has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis, and has repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a broker between Kyiv and Moscow. His offer has so far failed to produce any breakthrough. Ukraine PM Denys Shmyhal met the pope at the Vatican on Thursday and said he had discussed a “peace formula” put forward by President Zelenskyy.
