Zelensky will travel tomorrow to Italy where he could meet with Pope Francis

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskywill be received on Saturday in Rome by the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarellain a lightning visit that could include a meeting with the Pope Francisco.

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Zelensky will meet Mattarella at the Quirinale Palaceconfirmed this Friday to AFP a spokesman for the Italian presidency.

For now, a meeting with the Prime Minister has not been officially confirmed. Giorgia Meloniwho visited kyiv in February to reiterate “full support” of Italy to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022.

sources of Vatican They indicated this Friday that it is “possible” That the Ukrainian president is also received by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace.

Although the meeting with the pope Francisco has not been confirmed either, it raises many expectations since the same pontiff recently revealed “that a peace mission is underway” of the Vatican to end the war.

“I’m willing to do whatever needs to be done. Also, there is now a quest going on, but it’s not public yet. Let’s see how… When it’s public I’ll say it”, Francisco told the journalists who accompanied him at the end of April on the return flight from his three-day trip to Hungary.

That mission was confirmed this week by the number two of the Holy See and the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolín.

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The way of peace

It would be the first meeting since the start of the war between the president of Ukraine and the leader of the Catholic Churchwho has not stopped asking for peace since the conflict began.

“Everyone is interested in the path of peace and I am willing to do everything possible.”, said the Pope regarding a possible mediation of the Holy See in the conflict.

If the audience is confirmed, it would take place just two weeks after the pontiff received at the apostolic palace in the Vatican to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.

On that occasion, the Pope promised to facilitate the return to Ukraine of children deported to Russia.

“The Holy See is willing to do that because it’s fair”, he explained Francisco to journalists.

Ukrainian authorities estimate that more than 16,000 Ukrainian children were “kidnapped” and transferred to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and are believed to be in foster homes in that country.

Russia denies these accusations and maintains that “has saved” to Ukrainian children by removing them from the places where fighting is taking place and ensures that it has established the procedures to reunite them with their families.

Francisco and Zelensky They are already known because the Pope received the Ukrainian leader in the Vatican in February 2020, two years before the Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian president is also planning a trip to Germany this weekend, where he will meet with the head of government, Olaf Schölzand the president, Frank–walter steinmeier.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.