Russia has acknowledged the Vatican’s diplomatic mission to broker a peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The Farnesina mentioned the Holy See’s ongoing peace mission in a statement last week.
“We recognize the sincere desire of the Holy See to promote the peace process,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
“At the same time, no concrete steps have been taken on the Vatican side to organize the trip to Moscow,” he added.
POPE FRANCIS GREETS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX LEADER IN SECRET “MISSION” TO THE VATICAN TO END THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Celebration of Holy Mass presided over by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Metropolitan Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference. (Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The comments were first reported by Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti.
Last week, Pope Francis officially appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Italian prelate and archbishop of Bologna, as the official envoy of the Holy See to Ukraine.
POPE CONFIRMS SECRET MISSION TO VATICAN IN UKRAINE
Pope Francis, right, flanked by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian bishops, attends the opening of the 77th General Assembly of the Italian Bishops’ Conference in the Synod Hall in Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Zuppi is a veteran Vatican diplomat with experience negotiating peace deals during Mozambique’s civil war.
The Vatican has said of Zuppi’s appointment that the cardinal will work to “reduce the tensions of the conflict in Ukraine, in the hope, never abandoned by the Holy Father, that this can initiate peace processes”.
The Italian cardinal is reportedly working to schedule private audiences with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Celebration of Holy Mass presided over by Card. Matteo Zuppi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, during the 77th General Assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Vatican City, 25 May 2023. (Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Pope Francis has consistently offered to be a peace negotiator and moderator for Russia and Ukraine since the invasion began last year.
The pontiff met with Zelensky in Vatican City, worked with the Ukrainian government to care for displaced Ukrainian children, and hosted Russian Orthodox church leaders for discussions.
