The position of Pope Francis regarding the role of Russia in the current conflict with Ukraine was not always obvious and clear. That is why the personal meeting between the President of Ukraine and the head of the Vatican was very important. Will it bring real results?
The hum of helicopters over Rome subsided
The visit was prepared secretly. About 1000 police officers were involved in providing security during the meeting. Also, at the time of the visit, aircraft flights over Rome, which constantly control the airspace, were stopped.
Why was the first meeting delayed?
The rhetoric of Pope Francis sometimes caused the indignation of Ukrainians and those nations who feel pain for the suffering of the people of Ukraine. He emphasized that the Russians are a great nation, which is not characterized by cruelty. Such statements against the background of cadres from Bucha, Irpin, and other de-occupied territories sounded controversial.
Francis also said that Ukraine has become the battleground of several empires, essentially supporting Russian propaganda that Ukraine is just a bargaining chip in the big game.
Enemy or partner?
The previous meeting of the Pope with Zelenskyy took place back in 2020, before the full-scale invasion of Russia. Why did the President of Ukraine decide to use the time allocated for negotiations with partners that provide arms or financial aid for a visit to Rome?
There are several good reasons:
- Pope Francis has mentioned several times that he is ready to become a mediator in the communication between two conflicting countries.
- He has already made a visit to Hungary – the country that represents the greatest resistance to aid to Ukraine among the EU members.
- Earlier, Francis met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister. They discussed the possibility of a priest’s visit to Kyiv.
The fact that the Vatican is as much a player on the political scene as any country in Europe cannot be doubted. Although it does not have an army, it has a significant influence on major world events.
Some time ago, Francis announced that he was participating behind the scenes in a peacekeeping mission aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. It is possible that the Pope’s meeting with Zelenskyy means the activation of this initiative.
