"The main purpose of this initiative is to listen in depth to the Ukrainian authorities about possible ways to achieve a just peace and to support gestures of humanity that will help ease tensions," a Vatican press statement said of the 67-year-old cardinal's visit before Zuppi departed.

Cardinal Zuppi (pictured), is president of the Italian Bishops' Conference and often mentioned as a potential future pope, was likely chosen for this mission due to his active role in mediating the end of a civil war in Mozambique during the 1980s.

However, the details of Cardinal Zuppi's agenda were not disclosed, and the outlines of the task the pope has entrusted to him remained particularly vague.

This peace mission comes less than a month after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Rome, where he met with the pope. Following the meeting, Ukrainian officials dismissed the possibility of Vatican mediation in resolving the conflict with Russia.

President Zelensky declared, "We don't need a mediator between Ukraine and the aggressor."

Tensions within the Vatican

In response, Vatican officials have said that Cardinal Zuppi's mission is aimed at something different.

"This mission does not have the immediate objective of mediation, but rather of creating this climate and helping to move towards a peaceful solution," declared Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope's Secretary of State, on May 26.

The statements made by Cardinal Pietro Parolin on May 26 exemplify the internal tensions within the Vatican regarding the merits of Cardinal Zuppi's undertaking. Some within the Secretariat of State view the mission as bypassing the ongoing diplomatic efforts of the Holy See.

While Cardinal Zuppi's visit is currently limited to Kyiv, members of the papal entourage have indicated that this mission aims to tour three other capitals: Washington, Beijing and, most crucially, Moscow.

A trip to Moscow appears plausible, but the same cannot be said for China, as the Holy See lacks diplomatic relations with Beijing, maintaining only strict pastoral ties through an agreement on the appointment of bishops.

Foreign diplomats in Rome have expressed scepticism regarding Cardinal Zuppi's potential to achieve a breakthrough in the Ukraine-Russia war. One ambassador candidly remarked, "It's a suicide mission, isn't it?"

Another diplomat noted, "No one has ever succeeded in doing this. Ukraine is not Mozambique."

Sources

Reuters

La Croix International

Vatican News

CathNews New Zealand

Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Vatican is "willing to facilitate dialogue with Russia" and "ready to help" all parties involved to return to the negotiating table.

"There is still time for goodwill, there is still room for negotiation," the cardinal said in an interview published jointly by several Italian newspapers.

In the interview, published on February 28, the secretary of state said that despite the outbreak of conflict "I am convinced that there is still and always room for negotiation. It is never too late".

"Because the only reasonable and constructive way to settle differences is dialogue, as the pope never tires of repeating," he said.

"The Holy See, which in recent years has followed the events in Ukraine constantly, discreetly and with great attention, offering its willingness to facilitate dialogue with Russia, is always ready to help the parties to resume that path".

Russian and Ukrainian representatives arrived for talks on Monday at the Ukraine-Belarus border. However, Ukrainian representatives voiced scepticism that the talks will end the conflict.

But "we must avoid every escalation, halt the conflict and negotiate," Parolin said. He also looked to longer-term implications between East and West. The cardinal commented that "returning to a new cold war" is a "disturbing scenario" and that only "a culture of fraternity" can build stable and just world peace.

The cardinal acknowledged the danger facing Europe and the eerie echoes of the world wars. European intervention in the Ukrainian conflict "would be a catastrophe of massive proportions" he said. Still, the eventuality "cannot be excluded".

"I have seen some of the statements these days that recalled the incidents that preceded and provoked the Second World War" Parolin said. "These references make one shudder".

He added that the different Christian communions can also "play a vital role" in bringing peace.

"Today we see encouraging signs in the appeals of the heads of the Orthodox Churches who show a willingness to leave aside the memory of each other's wounds and to work together for peace" he commented.

Since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Pope Francis has engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to help end the conflict.

On February 25, in an unprecedented move, he visited the Russian Embassy to the Holy See "to show his concern for the war". Insiders say the visit included a direct phone call to Vladimir Putin.

On the same day, Pope Francis called Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leader. The pope promised to do everything he could to help end the war. This was the genesis of the idea that the Vatican could mediate between Ukraine and Russia.

Sources

Religion News

Catholic News Agency