Italian Cardinal Matteo Juppi has begun a visit to Moscow as part of a mission entrusted by Pope Francis to seek a path to peace in Ukraine, reunite Ukrainian children with their families and exchange prisoners of war.
Vatican News
Russia, Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (REI): Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace in Ukraine began his second visit to the Russian capital, Moscow, on Monday.
The Pope has appointed Cardinal Matteo Maria Juppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, as his special envoy in June 2023.
According to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, Cardinal Juppi’s visit is part of his mission as the Pope’s envoy.
The Italian cardinal will meet with Russian officials and “evaluate new efforts to reintegrate Ukrainian children to their families and facilitate the exchange of prisoners with the aim of achieving the long-awaited peace,” Bruni said.
peace mission trip
Cardinal Juppi began his peacekeeping mission with a visit to Ukraine on June 5-6, 2023, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other high-level officials.
The cardinal then visited Russia from June 28 to 30, 2023, where he met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, as well as government officials, including Assistant to the President for Foreign Policy Affairs of the Russian Federation, Yuri Ushakov , and the ambassador of the Russian Federation, María Lvova. -Belova, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
From July 17 to 19, 2023, he visited Washington, D.C. He traveled and met with US President Joe Biden and presented him with a letter from Pope Francis.
Cardinal Juppi also visited Beijing from September 13 to 15, 2023, where he met with Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
