Valentina di Giorgio
(ZENIT News / Rome, 05.29.2023).- The Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave more details on the peace mission that the Pope entrusted to the Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopate, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, last May 20.
In the context of the presentation of a plan in the Gemelli Hospital, of the Tiber Island in Rome, Cardinal Parolin stated that the most basic objectives of the mission are: 1) To eliminate all the obstacles (which includes the threat of nuclear escalation) and 2) To reach a ceasefire that opens the way to negotiation. Answering a journalist of La Presse, he said the intention of the peace mission is not attain peace but to create an atmosphere that fosters the end of the bellicose conflict. “The mission follows this line: to attempt to eliminate all the obstacles and come to a ceasefire and negotiation.”
Beyond these statements, the Secretary of State did not give more details on the mission the Pope commissioned to Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to carry out, although he did mention that in addition to the two sides involved, rapprochements with China and the United States are not excluded.
Cardinal Parolin’s statements are in keeping with those of the previous day, Friday, May 26, in the context of an event at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See. Addressing the journalists , the Cardinal Secretary of State underscored that the mission doesn’t have mediation as the immediate objective,” but will attempt to “foster an atmosphere, an environment that could lead to ways of peace.”
Cardinal Parolin also said dates have yet to be established for Cardinal Zuppi to visit the Russian and Ukrainian capitals. “I believe that on the part of the two capitals, there aren’t problems for the dates on which the Cardinal could go; it would be enough to come to an agreement.” In fact, it was stressed that the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation values positively the Pope’s initiative.
