The Vatican’s involvement in a covert peace “mission” to repatriate Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia during the two countries’ war was acknowledged by Pope Francis on Sunday.
In a press conference, Francis stated, “I’m available to do anything.” “A secret mission is now under progress. I’ll discuss it once it is open to the public.
The pope was consulted in the Ukraine’s endeavor to repatriate its children, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday.
Shmyhal told reporters, “I asked the Vatican and the Holy Father for help in getting the children taken by Russia back.”
Francis said Sunday that the Ukraine children’s rescue efforts were a topic of discussion during his visit to Hungary, where he met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest.
“The Holy See is willing to do this because it is the right thing,” Francis said of the secret mission. “All human gestures help, but gestures of cruelty don’t help. We have to do all that is humanly possible.”
Shmyhal said he invited Francis to visit Ukraine. The pope has previously said he wishes to visit Ukraine and Russia to help establish peace.