Vatican: Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with Volodimir Zelensky in Ukraine

The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, met this July 23 with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the conclusion of his visit to the country at war.

Bringing the Holy Father’s closeness to the “martyred” Ukraine: this has been the purpose of the 5-day trip of the Vatican authority to the country invaded by the Russian army since the beginning of 2022.

After visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of Carmen of Berdychiv and meet with the leader of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, Bishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the cardinal held a meeting today with Volodimir Zelensky.

The Holy Father’s special envoy received the cardinal in kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. According to Andrii Yurash, Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, this meeting was a “step in the development of a very positive and fruitful cooperation” between the country and the Holy See.

After the meeting, the Secretary of State stressed that the Holy See has supported “from the beginning” the “peace plan” led by the president of Ukraine.

Along these lines, he regretted that Russia is not involved and stressed that peace “must be made between the two continents.” Regarding the cessation of the conflict, he assured that it is still “very far away” although he assured to maintain hope.

For his part, the Ukrainian president published his impressions on the social network of the results of our meeting with Pope Francis in June in Italy.”

“We focus especially on the decisions of the first Peace Summit and on the role of the Vatican in establishing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. “I appreciate the Cardinal’s support for our country and our people,” he highlighted.

Before this meeting, Cardinal Parolin visited the Saint Sophia Cathedral and also went to the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, where 627 children were being held when it was hit by a Russian missile on July 8.

This attack left 2 dead, including a doctor, and 50 injured, 8 of them minors. Likewise, 94 children had to be transferred to other hospitals in kyiv.

There, according to the official media of the Vatican, was able to greet the staff and several mothers who have lost their children. “War leaves disastrous traces in the life and body of society,” said the cardinal.

Likewise, he stressed that with his visit he intends to “keep the international community’s attention on the war alive, so that it does not become another forgotten conflict.”

He also urged us to be “creative” and “find formulas that can help open paths to peace.”