ROME (CNS): The top priority for Pope Francis’ peace envoy, Matteo Cardinal Zuppi, during his July 18 meeting with United States’ president, Joe Biden, was the repatriation of children forcibly deported from Ukraine to Russia, the papal nuncio to the United States, Cardinal-elect Christophe Pierre, told La Repubblica in an interview published on July 19.
The overall objective of the meeting, Cardinal-elect Pierre explained, was “to contribute to peace and more precisely to cover the humanitarian aspects, in particular concerning children. The discussion revolved around this.”
When asked if this meant that the immediate goal was facilitating the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families, the papal nuncio said, “Yes, that is the cardinal’s [Zuppi], and obviously the pope’s, more specific goal, also because it is a more concrete issue.”
He said in the interview, “Obviously, however, the idea is to think about peace, in the complicated context that exists.” The cardinal-elect added, “The cardinal is very realistic, we try to do what is possible.”
In general, Cardinal Zuppi’s mission was “to listen and be listened to. To report on what has already happened in order to see how one can proceed,” the papal nuncio said.
This is a first step. We are realists, we know perfectly well that this is not easy. But the pope wants to contribute to [bringing] attention to a situation that will in any case have to reach an outcome
Cardinal-designate Pierre
“This is a first step. We are realists, we know perfectly well that this is not easy. But the pope wants to contribute to [bringing] attention to a situation that will in any case have to reach an outcome,” Cardinal-designate Pierre said.
Meanwhile, the White House said in a statement on July 18 that Biden shared with Cardinal Zuppi “his wishes for Pope Francis’ continued ministry and global leadership and welcomed the recent nomination of a US archbishop as cardinal,” referring to Chicago-born Cardinal-elect Robert Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
The US president and Cardinal Zuppi “also discussed the Holy See’s efforts providing humanitarian aid to address the widespread suffering caused by Russia’s continuing aggression in Ukraine, as well as the Vatican’s advocacy for the return of forcibly deported Ukrainian children,” the White House statement said.
Pope Francis had sent Cardinal Zuppi, who is archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, to Washington as part of his ongoing humanitarian efforts to help Ukraine [Sunday Examiner, July 23].
The Church is concentrating on what we do best, which of course is humanitarian assistance, so that was the primary focus of Cardinal Zuppi’s intervention
Archbishop Timothy Broglio
The July 17 to 19 visit was “in the context of the mission intended to promote peace in Ukraine and aims to exchange ideas and opinions on the current tragic situation and to support humanitarian initiatives to alleviate the suffering of the most affected and fragile people, especially children,” the Vatican said in a July 17 communiqué.
Cardinal Zuppi has travelled to Russia and Ukraine in recent months to meet with government officials on the pope’s behalf.
US Archbishop Timothy Broglio of Military Services told Vatican News on July 20, that the purpose of Cardinal Zuppi’s meeting was “certainly not mediation, but an opportunity to see what the Holy See could do to help in an eventual end of hostilities in Ukraine,” yet he noted that “at the present time that seems somewhat unrealistic.”
He said, “The Church is concentrating on what we do best, which of course is humanitarian assistance, so that was the primary focus of Cardinal Zuppi’s intervention.”
