The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States speaks to his Russian counterpart by phone to debate the continuing warfare in Ukraine and initiatives aimed toward halting army actions, and provides to proceed humanitarian efforts and to facilitate the alternate of prisoners between the 2 nations.
By Linda Bordoni
The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and Worldwide Organizations and the Minister of International Affairs of the Russian Federation spoke by phone on Friday, April 4, to debate present affairs and, specifically, the scenario of the warfare in Ukraine.
In accordance with a Holy See Press Workplace assertion, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and Sergey Lavrov engaged in a dialogue “targeted on the overall framework of world politics, with explicit consideration to the scenario of the warfare in Ukraine and a few initiatives aimed toward halting army actions.”
“The Holy See’s willingness to proceed its humanitarian efforts concerning the alternate of prisoners was additionally reaffirmed,” the assertion mentioned.
Lastly, some points associated to non secular life have been additionally examined, significantly regarding the scenario of the Catholic Church within the Russian Federation.
Prisoner exchanges
In March, Russia and Ukraine mentioned they’d every swapped 175 prisoners in one of many largest exchanges for the reason that Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine began three years in the past.
A spokesperson for Russia’s overseas ministry has acknowledged the Vatican’s position in mediating the return of greater than a dozen Russian troopers in two latest prisoner exchanges with Ukraine.
In January, the Russian International Ministry’s press director, Maria Zakharova, praised Pope Francis’ place on the Russia-Ukraine Warfare and the concrete humanitarian outcomes of cooperation between Russia and the Holy See.
Pope Francis has tirelessly reiterated his enchantment for an alternate of prisoners, affirming the Holy See’s readiness to facilitate efforts on this regard.
