Papal envoy heads for China on Ukraine peace mission

The cardinal already visited Kyiv and Moscow in June and traveled to Washington the following month.

By REUTERS
Pope Francis speaks during Regina Caeli prayer, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 1, 2022. (photo credit: VATICAN MEDIA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Pope Francis speaks during Regina Caeli prayer, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 1, 2022.
(photo credit: VATICAN MEDIA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi will be in China from Wednesday to Friday this week as part of a diplomatic effort to achieve peace in Ukraine, the Vatican said, confirming earlier Italian media reports.

"The visit represents a further stage in the mission desired by the Pope to support humanitarian initiatives and the search for paths that can lead to a just peace", the Vatican said in a statement on Tuesday.

The cardinal already visited Kyiv and Moscow in June and traveled to Washington the following month as part of his attempts to facilitate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Delegation to Beijing

Italian daily La Repubblica said Zuppi was likely to meet "top institutional leaders" in Beijing, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Pope Francis speaks during a press conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back after visiting Mongolia, September 4, 2023. (credit: VATICAN MEDIA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Pope Francis speaks during a press conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back after visiting Mongolia, September 4, 2023. (credit: VATICAN MEDIA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

The Vatican statement did not give details about his agenda.



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