RCC head: Vatican is involved in secret Ukraine peace mission

Pope Francis. Photo: reuters.com

Pope Francis said that the Vatican is participating in a "not yet public" peace mission, the purpose of which is "to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine." He said this while talking to reporters during a flight following his visit to Hungary, reports Reuters.

The pontiff said that he had spoken on the issue of resolving the "Russian-Ukrainian conflict" with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and with Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Budapest of the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to him, “there is a mission in course now but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it.”

“We have to do all that is humanly possible. <...> I think that peace is always made by opening channels. You can never achieve peace through closure. ... This is not easy," he added.

As the UOJ reported, the Pope met with Metropolitan Hilarion in Budapest.

Read also

U.S. bishops call for Church unity on Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy

The Assembly of Bishops of the USA has issued an encyclical for the Triumph of Orthodoxy on Church unity, veneration of icons, and support for pan-Orthodox ministry.

OCU organizes harassment of businessman for aiding UOC

Hryshchuk called for boycotting the business of the entrepreneur who built a UOC church in the Rivne region.

Head of Lavra Reserve: I believe UOC monks will move to the OCU

Ostapenko said there are 140 UOC monks and novices on the territory of the Lower Lavra.

"Shield of Judah": Biblical name given to operations against Iran

A joint Israeli–US military operation against Iran has received a code name referencing the biblical forefather of the Jewish royal line.

In Syria, Islamic militants behead statues of Christ and Virgin Mary

Vandals beheaded statues of the Lord and the Mother of God at the entrance to the "Cave of the Virgin Mary" in the village of Al-Basiya near the coastal city of Banias in Syria.

Icon with particle of Gabriel Urgebadze's relics to be brought to Uzhhorod from Georgia

The holy icon, painted in Georgia, will be brought to the Holy Trinity Church of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC.