From June 28-30, the Holy Father’s envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, was in Moscow to identify humanitarian initiatives that could open paths to achieve peace.
Over three days, His Eminence met with Yuri Ushakov, Assistant of the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Policy Matters, and with Mrs Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner of the Federation’s President for Children’s Rights. During the conversations, the focus was primarily on the initiative’s humanitarian aspect, as well as the need to reach the very longed for peace.
During a brief visit to Saint Nicholas’ Church in Tolmachi, in the Tretyakov Gallery, His Eminence paused in prayer before the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, to whom he entrusted his mission.
He also held a fruitful meeting with His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, to whom he transmitted the Holy Father’s greetings and with whom he also talked about humanitarian initiatives that might facilitate a peaceful solution.
Cardinal Zuppi met as well with the Bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia, with whom, together with a numerous group of priests and in the presence of Ambassadors and Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he presided over a solemn concelebration in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow. It was an occasion to transmit to the Catholic community the closeness, remembrance and prayers of the Holy Father.
The results of the visit will be made known to the Holy Father in view of further steps to be taken, both on the humanitarian plane as well as in the quest for paths of peace.
