Vatican Involved in Secret Ukraine Peace ‘Mission’, Pope Claims – One America News Network

OAN Brooke Mallory
Updated 6:25 PM – Monday, May 1, 2023

Pope Francis said Sunday that the Vatican is actively involved in efforts to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, helping to return Ukrainian children allegedly kidnapped to Russia or Russian-held territory. He said he was prepared to do so.Russian Army.

“Currently, the mission is underway, but it is not open to the public yet. We will reveal it when it is,” the pope said as he returned home after a trip to Hungary.

“I think peace is always made by opening channels. Peace can never be achieved by closing…this is not easy.”

The Pope further said he had discussed the Ukrainian conflict with Metropolitan Hilarion, the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

“At these meetings, we didn’t just talk about Little Red Riding Hood. We talked about all these things.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Francis has reportedly encouraged and pleaded for peace nearly every week, and has spoken out about his desire to serve as a mediator between Kiev and Moscow. He mentions it frequently.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmikhal said he met with the 86-year-old Pope at the Vatican on Thursday to discuss a “peace mission” launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Shmyhal also requested assistance in repatriating the children. Since Moscow’s invasion of Crimea last February, Kiev estimates that nearly 19,500 of her minors have (allegedly) been illegally deported to either Russia or the Russian-occupied territories.

“The Holy See is happy to do this[to help repatriate the children]because it’s the right thing to do,” Francis said on the plane. “All human gestures are useful, but cruel gestures are not. We must do everything humanly possible.”

Francis, who appeared fairly healthy during the tour, made particular mention of his health after being hospitalized in late March for what the Vatican claimed at the time was bronchitis.

He said he experienced severe pain on March 29th.^th and tried to sleep.

“I didn’t lose consciousness, but I had a high fever, and at 3:00 p.m. the doctors took me straight to the hospital.

“It was a strong acute pneumonia in the lower part of the lungs. Thank God I can talk about it. The body responded well to the treatment, thank God,” he said. released on the 1st of the month^st.

Pope had part of one lung removed more than 50 years ago as a young man living in Argentina. Some sources suggest that this may have contributed to his sudden bronchitis.

He concluded the meeting by stating that there were no changes to the itinerary to Lisbon, Marseille and Mongolia in August.

Get informed! Receive free breaking news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts