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Pope Francis says Vatican involved in peace mission to end Russia-Ukraine conflict

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Nitish Verma
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Pope Francis waves as he delivers his traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi message to the city and the world from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, on December 25, 2022<br>Image Credit: Reuters

Pope Francis has revealed that the Vatican is involved in a peace mission aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to reporters during a flight back from Hungary on Sunday, the pontiff stated that there is an ongoing mission but declined to give further details. “I am willing to do everything that has to be done,” he said, “I think that peace is always made by opening channels. You can never achieve peace through closure...This is not easy.”

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Pope Francis’ peace efforts

The Pope did not disclose the specific nature of the peace mission but his comments come amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict has been ongoing since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and has recently escalated, with Ukraine accusing Russia of building up military forces along the border.

Pope Francis has long been an advocate for peace and dialogue in the international arena. He has previously played a role in negotiations aimed at ending conflicts in Colombia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. In his latest peace efforts, the Pope stated that he had discussed the situation in Ukraine with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and with Metropolitan Hilarion, a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest.

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The importance of opening channels

During the press conference, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of opening channels to achieve peace. He stated, “Peace is made by dialogue. It is the fruit of dialogue, and when there is dialogue, there is peace.” He added that the path to peace is not an easy one but stressed the need for continued efforts toward a resolution.

The Vatican’s diplomatic efforts

The Vatican has a long history of diplomatic efforts towards peace and conflict resolution. Its diplomatic corps, known as the Holy See, maintains relations with more than 180 countries, including both Russia and Ukraine. The Holy See has previously played a role in diplomatic efforts toward peace in conflicts such as the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Korean War.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, Pope Francis’ involvement in peace negotiations offers hope for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.

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