Papal Peace Envoy Visits Ukraine Today

The Vatican stated in a announcement that "Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi will head to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv today, Monday, for a two-day visit, commissioned by Pope Francis for a peace mission aimed at helping to end the war in Ukraine." The statement added: "This initiative's main purpose is to listen in detail to the Ukrainian authorities about possible ways to achieve a fair peace, and humanitarian support initiatives that may contribute to easing tensions." Since the war began in February 2022, Pope Francis and the Vatican have been attempting to mediate for peace, but these efforts have not succeeded so far. Zuppi is also connected to the Sant'Egidio Community, a group dedicated to spreading peace and justice, based in Rome, which mediated a 1992 agreement that ended the civil war in Mozambique. The Pope appointed Zuppi as a cardinal in 2019 before he was elected president of the Italian Bishops' Conference last year.