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Vatican envoy heads to Russia to discuss humanitarian aspects of Ukrainian settlement

On September 28-30, cardinal Matteo Zuppi will hold a series of meetings in the Russian capital to discuss ways to resolve humanitarian issues

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi

© AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

VATICAN CITY, September 27. /TASS/. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Leo XIV’s special envoy for Ukraine and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, told TASS that he is traveling to Moscow on Sunday.

On September 28-30, he will hold a series of meetings in the Russian capital to discuss ways to resolve humanitarian issues and find solutions to the Ukrainian crisis.

"I’m leaving today. Meetings with Russian officials are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. This is all part of the humanitarian mission first entrusted to me by Pope Francis and then confirmed by Pope Leo XIV. I have been instructed to support the parties' efforts to address the issues of children [evacuated from combat zones], prisoner exchanges, and civilian problems arising from the conflict," the envoy said.

According to Zuppi, among other things, the sides will verify whether all civilians forcibly displaced by Ukrainian servicemen from the Kursk Region have returned home. "We are considering all requests from both the Ukrainian and Russian sides within the framework of the dialogue that has already begun. We wish to further develop this dialogue since we know how much suffering war causes. We are trying to help bring it to an end," the cardinal emphasized.

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