Cardinal Zuppi begins two-day mission to Kyiv

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 5 - President of the Italian Bishops' Conference and archbishop of Bologna Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on Monday began a two-day mission to Kyiv in order "to listen in depth to the Ukrainian authorities about possible ways to achieve a just peace and support gestures of humanity that will help ease tensions", according to a statement from the Holy See.
    Cardinal Zuppi will be in the Ukrainian capital as "envoy of the Holy Father Francis", the statement adds.
    On May 20 Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that the pope had entrusted Cardinal Zuppi with leading a mission, in agreement with the Secretariat of State, that might "contribute to an easing of tensions in the Ukraine conflict, in the hope that this might initiate paths of peace, a hope never abandoned by the Holy Father".
    The announcement came after the pope announced in April a secret Vatican peace mission on Ukraine, knowledge of which Kyiv and Moscow both subsequently denied.
    During a visit to Italy and the Vatican in mid-May Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after meeting Francis that "with all respect for His Holiness, we do not need mediators, we need a just peace". (ANSA).