2023-06-06 22:27:15
“It is important to listen to everyone”: thus Paolo Pezzi, archbishop of the diocese of the Russian capital, opens to a visit by Cardinal Zuppi mirroring the one in Kiev
VATICAN CITY «It seems to me important that the cardinal Soupi went to Kiev and may he also come here to Moscow when it is. Very important. He wasn’t obvious at all.” Paolo Pezzi, 62, archbishop of Moscow, has led the diocese of the Russian capital, with seventy thousand faithful, for sixteen years.
How is the war experienced in Moscow, Your Excellency?
«It is as if everything had entered the houses, suddenly become close, with the autumn mobilization. At first, it was perceived by most people as something remote. Now we see the consequences, a climate of concern, suspicion, distrust. One wonders what will happen in the future, I have seen young families in which the husband was among those who could receive the postcard, others who already have someone at the front while the news is not always very clear… It is a heavy climate, even if not suffocating : people still want to live, to look ahead».
Yet the chronicles of war seem to make the Pope’s mission of peace increasingly difficult, don’t they?
«Certainly now, with these actions being repeated on both sides, any possible dialogue appears difficult, everything seems to be turning for the worse. But, you see, I’ve learned to look positively at even the smallest signs of hope. I had recently read very negative statements from both Zelensky and the Kremlin regarding a possible mediation. And in such a stagnant situation, the fact that the Pope’s envoy went to Ukraine and received the OK from the Kremlin to come to Moscow, even if I don’t know when, is a sign that in itself should not be underestimated”.
In what sense?
«It is a figure against the trend, a sign of open doors. The Holy See explained that the mission in Kiev is above all to listen, to evaluate the proposals. Diplomatic intelligence is also visible: when one road seems to close, another is ready. And I think it’s a good way, not to worry about already arriving at a very difficult solution, and instead concentrate on listening. That a proposal can also be listened to by Moscow seems to me very important».
Do you think Zuppi will be able to meet Putin?
“The Kremlin spokesman said it wasn’t planned, but whether that means it won’t happen, I don’t know.”
If direct mediation is impossible, will humanitarian mediation – the prisoners, the children – be able to work?
«On the prisoner front, the Pope has already been able to obtain results for many months. As far as I know, the mediation of the Holy See is the only one that has achieved or obtained prisoner exchanges. The attempts of both sides alone have not led to much, nor do I know that others, American, European or Chinese, have taken similar initiatives. On the humanitarian level, I would say that the Holy See is the only one that is doing something”.
What about Ukrainian children?
“Unfortunately, I know little or nothing about this, concretely.”
Last year, the meeting between Francis and the Orthodox patriarch Kirill was skipped. Will the mission also be an opportunity to thaw?
«It can favor the possibility of resuming the dialogue for a meeting. As for the dialogue itself, however, here I have not had the impression that there has been a cooling off between the two churches. I went to the patriarch at Easter and I didn’t get the impression there were any signs of misunderstanding».
The Pope goes on: is it worth it?
«Of course, it is a sign that gives hope. The visit of Cardinal Zuppi and the humanitarian commitment are two flames that shed some light in the pitch dark. I’m not a dreamer, I’m aware of the difficulties, but I don’t care. I’m interested in those little lights.”
June 6, 2023 (change June 6, 2023 | 22:26)
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