President of the Italian Bishops'
Conference and Archbishop of Bologna Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on
Thursday met with Moscow's ombudswoman for children's rights
Maria Lvova-Belova during a two-day peace mission to the Russian
capital.
Lvova-Belova is wanted together with Russian President Vladimir
Putin by the International Criminal Court for the unlawful
transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that no
specific agreement had been reached during Wednesday's
conversation between Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy
advisor, and the papal envoy, according to Interfax.
The conversation will continue as necessary, Peskov added.
"It was an exchange of views and information on humanitarian
issues in the context of the Ukrainian situation," Peskov said.
"There are no specific decisions or agreements," he added.
"If necessary, the dialogue will continue."
Earlier, the Catholic Archbishop of Moscow, Paolo Pezzi, told
Tass news agency the main topic had been "humanitarian issues
related to refugees, including minors", without giving further
details.
The Kyiv authorities have asked the Vatican to raise with Moscow
the issue of Ukrainian children deported to Russia.
Also on Thursday the Nuncio in Moscow, Monsignor Giovanni
D'Aniello, told Tg1 that Zuppi would meet Patriarch Kirill in
the afternoon and then concelebrate evening Mass in the Catholic
Cathedral in the Russian capital.
"There he will certainly bring the Holy Father's greetings,
closeness and prayer for the entire Catholic community. And
above all he will pray for peace," said the Nuncio.
On Tuesday the Vatican issued a statement announcing Zuppi's
mission, the main aim of which is to "encourage gestures of
humanity, which can contribute to fostering a solution to the
current tragic situation and find possible ways to achieve a
just peace".
The visit comes on the heels of a similar mission to Kyiv in
early June, when Zuppi met with representatives of the civil and
religious authorities and Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky.
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