Vatican City: Pope Francis has announced his intention to travel to the Russian capital, Moscow, to meet with President Vladimir Putin to restore peace in Ukraine, despite suffering from knee pain. The pope made the revelation in an interview with the leading Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Pope Benedict reiterated his readiness to meet with Putin, revealing that efforts had begun days before talks with Putin to end the attack. “Twenty days after the war, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parole expressed his desire to meet with Putin. But Russia has not responded. Putin must open the door for me. ‘
At the outset of the war, the Vatican made it clear that it was ready to mediate. Following the announcement of World Prayer Day and the sending of delegates to Ukraine, the pope expressed his solidarity with the Ukrainian people and called on the Russian embassy in Italy to end the war, despite protocols. The pope also spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Selensky.
Thus, the meeting with Putin is the latest move in the Pope’s ongoing mediation efforts. “Before leaving for Kiev, Ukraine, I want to go to Moscow and meet with Putin,” he said. At this juncture, I am concerned that Putin does not want such a meeting, or that he will not be able to do so, “said Pope Benedict, reiterating his readiness for the meeting.
The pope also mentioned a video conference with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. The pope’s statement that he was indirectly supporting Russia’s war, and that the language of Christ should be used instead of the language of politics, was also big news. The pope said that what was happening in Ukraine was a test of weapons, and reminded the world that 25 years ago, Rwanda had witnessed similar atrocities.
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