(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 11.10.2024).- In a meeting charged with symbolism and hope, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had a private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican. The central issue resounded profoundly: the return of Ukrainians detained in Russia. “The return of our people from prison was the focus of my conversation with the Holy Father. We rely on the assistance of the Holy See to bring back Ukrainians who have been captured by Russia,” said Zelensky on his social networks, highlighting the importance of his conversation with the Pontiff
The Ukrainian leader stressed the national anguish over the people seized and deported. “For all of us in Ukraine, the issue of kidnapped adults and children is painful. Many civilians are in Russian prisons and camps,” he specified. His message became even more somber when recalling the recent death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who lost her life while in captivity in Russia. The tragic news is not only a devastating blow for journalists but also for human rights defenders and freedom of the press in Ukraine.
A Meeting in Quest of Peace
The meeting, which lasted 35 minutes, was held in the Vatican’s Library on Friday, October 11. It was the third between Pope Francis and Zelensky after the meetings in 2020 and 2023.
During the audience, the Pope gave Zelensky a symbolic work: a bronze relief representing a growing flower, with the inscription “Peace is a fragile flower. ”This gest underscored the urgency to find a peaceful solution to a conflict that continues to cost lives. For his part, Zelensky gave the Pontiff a painting entitled “The Bucha Massacre: Marichka’s Story,” a visual testimony of the war’s brutality.
In the course of the day, Zelensky’s conversations with top Vatican officials, among them Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, focused on the current state of the war and the difficult humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Also addressed were possible ways to reach a lasting peace as well as questions related to religious life in the country.
“Humanitarian Diplomacy” As Hope
One of the key aspects of the day was the humanitarian mission headed by Papal Envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. Vatican diplomacy has focused on facilitating the return of many Ukrainian adults and children sized during the Russian invasion. Although progress in this sense has been limited, some individuals have already been returned, which nourishes hope that the Vatican’s intervention could generate a significant change.
In a later post on his social networks, Zelensky pointed out that, during his meeting in the Secretariat of State, the implementation was discussed of the Ukrainian “Peace Formula,” with special focus on the return of deported children and the release of civilian hostages and prisoners of war. In addition, the Ukrainian President mentioned the preparation of an international conference in Canada at the end of October, to address these crucial humanitarian questions.
International Support and the Future of Ukraine
Zelensky was optimistic in regard to international support, particularly after Cardinal Parolin’s visit to Ukraine. “I am convinced that his visit will help to strengthen global efforts to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
Although discreet, the Vatican’s role in the search for diplomatic solutions for the Ukrainian conflict, has gained relevance in recent months. As the war continues, the “humanitarian diplomacy” promoted by Pope Francis could play a crucial role in the resolution of some of the most painful crises, such as the return of Ukrainian prisoners and the protection of civilians affected by the violence.
In an international scenario marked by uncertainty, the meeting between the Holy Father and Zelensky reflects the urgent need of humanitarian answers amid the devastation. In the meantime, Ukraine continues counting on the international community to restore peace and recover its people, a struggle that does not cease, and whose objective is to give back dignity and freedom to those from whom it has been robbed by the war.
