Cardinal Zuppi returns from Moscow as Pope Francis’ peace envoy

In a statement on Friday, 30 June, the Holy See announced that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has returned from his three-day visit to Moscow as the Pope’s special envoy. During his visit from 28 to 30 June, which had the aim of “identifying humanitarian initiatives that could open paths to achieving peace”, the Cardinal met with H.E. Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Policy Affairs; Ms Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner to the President of the Russian Federation for Children’s Rights; and His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, to whom he conveyed the Pope’s greetings and with whom he “discussed humanitarian initiatives that might facilitate a peaceful solution”.

Cardinal Zuppi made a brief visit to the Church of St Nicholas in Tolmachi, and presided over a solemn concelebration in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God, in Moscow.