(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 5 - Pope Francis said Monday he cannot yet travel to Kyiv or Moscow, as he would like, on doctor's orders.
    The Argentine pontiff has often declared his desire to travel to the two cities as part of Vatican peace efforts in the Ukraine war.
    He told CNN Portugal Monday that he is keeping up those efforts and was in constant touch with presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
    Francis has often been seen in a wheelchair lately because of nagging knee pain that makes it hard for him to walk.
    "A visit is in the air," Francis told TVI/CNN Portugal.
    "A don't know yet. I'm speaking to them. Tomorrow, for example, I have a phone call with President Zelensky. We'll see." Francis admitted that the path of dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow was "difficult".
    He said he would not make any trip abroad before his scheduled visit to Kazakhstan on 13-15 September.
    "I can't go now because after the trip to Canada the knee's recovery suffered a bit and the doctor banned me from going to Kazakhstan, but I kept in touch, on the phone, and I'll do what I can".
    He added: "I accompany with my pain and my prayers all that I do. But the situation is really tragic". (ANSA).