2023-06-05 17:36:03
The Vatican announced that starting today, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, will be sent by Pope Francis to Kiev with the aim of seeking mediation in the war in Ukraine. This important mission will take place on June 5 and 6, 2023.
Perspective Writing
The Holy See reported that the main purpose of Cardinal Zuppi’s visit is to listen carefully to the Ukrainian authorities and explore possible ways to achieve a just peace in the region. The Vatican also stressed the importance of supporting humanitarian gestures that help ease existing tensions.
Pope Francis has designated Cardinal Zuppi as the only interlocutor for dialogue with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky. Although a date for the trip to Moscow has not yet been set, this initiative is expected to be a crucial step in the search for peaceful solutions.
The Archbishop of Bologna, known for his dedication to the most disadvantaged and to migrants, has been entrusted by the Pope to lead this mission, drawing on his extensive experience in successful mediations. His work in peace agreements in Mozambique, his contribution in Guatemala and his collaboration with Nelson Mandela in the ceasefire in Burundi, have led the Pope to entrust him with this very delicate task.
The Community of Sant’Egidio, recognized for its work in mediation, will offer its support to Cardinal Zuppi during this mission. The organization, known as the “UN of Trastevere” for its headquarters in the Roman quarter, has been involved in humanitarian work in Ukraine, providing more than a thousand tons of aid, establishing distribution centers and maintaining a strong network of relationships, including the Moscow Patriarchate.
The participation of Cardinal Zuppi in the act of handing over the locations of ETA arms caches to the International Verification Commission (CIV) in Bayonne, together with the Irish Methodist Harold Good, who witnessed the disarmament of the IRA, demonstrates his commitment to the peace and its capacity to facilitate dialogues and agreements.
The mediation of Cardinal Zuppi in the war in Ukraine has become one of the most important and delicate missions of Pope Francis’ pontificate. His work will be based on the search for peaceful solutions and hope for a better future for the Ukrainian people.
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