Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Italian prelate tasked by Pope Francis to head a peace mission between Ukraine and Russia, is traveling to Washington, D.C., this week, the Vatican announced.
Newsroom (17/07/2023 19:30, Gaudium Press) The announcement was followed by confirmation from the White House that Zuppi will meet with President Joe Biden to discuss issues related to the war in Ukraine.
The cardinal’s visit comes only weeks after the Biden administration announced it was sending an additional $800 million in weapons to aid Ukraine’s counteroffensive — including morally problematic “cluster bombs” that have been banned by most countries, including the Holy See.
Zuppi, who has already visited both Ukraine and Russia, will be in the U.S. capital from July 17–19 and will be accompanied by an official from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.
“The visit will take place in the context of the peace promotion mission in Ukraine and aims to exchange ideas and views on the current tragic situation and to support humanitarian initiatives to alleviate the suffering of the most affected and most fragile people, especially children,” read the Vatican statement announcing Zuppi’s visit.
The White House issued a statement Monday announcing the issues on the agenda for the meeting between Zuppi and Biden.
“Cardinal Zuppi is travelling to Washington at the request of Pope Francis. President Biden and Cardinal Zuppi will discuss the widespread suffering caused by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine. They will also discuss efforts by the United States and Holy See to provide humanitarian aid to those affected, and the Papal See’s focus on repatriating Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russian officials,” reads the statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The Vatican has not disclosed with whom Zuppi will meet during his three-day visit.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
