Article Summary
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed potential ways the Vatican could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine during his meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican point man on Ukraine. The Vatican, with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality, had long offered to facilitate talks but found itself sidelined during the all-out war. Pope Francis, who had often angered both sides with his comments, had entrusted Zuppi with a mandate to find paths of peace. However, the mandate seemed to narrow to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia, and the Holy See also was able to mediate some prisoner exchanges. Pope Leo XIV, who was elected history’s first American pope on May 8, took up Francis’ call for peace in Ukraine in his first Sunday noon blessing as pope. He appealed for all sides to do whatever possible to reach “an authentic, just and lasting peace.”
What This Means for You
- The Vatican could potentially serve as a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing gratitude for the Holy See’s willingness to play a constructive and positive role.
- While the Vatican has traditionally offered its services to facilitate talks, its involvement in the conflict has been limited. However, recent developments suggest a renewed push for peace mediation.
- Actionable advice: Stay informed about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Vatican’s role in facilitating peace talks. Reach out to your local representatives to express your thoughts and concerns about the conflict.
- Future outlook: While the conflict remains complex, the Vatican’s renewed involvement in peace talks could signal a positive step towards resolving the crisis. However, it is essential to remain cautiously optimistic and monitor the situation closely for any updates.
Original Post
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks, taking up the Holy See’s longstanding offer after Pope Leo XIV vowed to personally make “every effort” to help end the war.
Speaking to reporters in Rome before meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican point man on Ukraine, Rubio said that he would be discussing potential ways the Vatican could help, “the status of the talks, the updates after yesterday (Friday) and the path forward.”
Asked if the Vatican could be a peace broker, Rubio replied: “I wouldn’t call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going.”
“So we’ll talk about all of that and obviously always grateful to the Vatican for their willingness to play this constructive and positive role,” he said at the U.S. Embassy in Rome.
The Vatican has a tradition of diplomatic neutrality and had long offered its services to try to help facilitate talks, but found itself sidelined during the all-out war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.
Pope Francis, who often angered both sides with his comments, had entrusted Zuppi with a mandate to try to find paths of peace. But the mandate seemed to narrow to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia, and the Holy See also was able to mediate some prisoner exchanges.
Leo, who was elected history’s first American pope on May 8, took up Francis’ call for peace in Ukraine in his first Sunday noon blessing as pope. He appealed for all sides to do whatever possible to reach “an authentic, just and lasting peace.”
Leo, who as a bishop in Peru had called Russia’s war an “imperialist invasion,” vowed this week personally to “make every effort so that this peace may prevail.”
In a speech to eastern rite Catholics, including the Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine, Leo begged warring sides to meet and negotiate.
“The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,” he said.
The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, repeated the Vatican’s offer to serve as a venue for direct talks, saying the failure of negotiations in Istanbul to reach a ceasefire this week was “tragic.”
“We had hoped it could start a process, slow but positive, toward a peaceful solution to the conflict,” Parolin said on the sidelines of a conference.
Asked concretely what such an offer would entail, Parolin said that the Vatican could serve as a venue for a direct meeting between the two sides.
“One would aim to arrive at this, that at least they talk. We’ll see what happens. It’s an offer of a place,” he said.
Key Terms
- Russia-Ukraine conflict
- Vatican peace talks
- Diplomatic neutrality
- Pope Leo XIV
- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi
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