“Pope Francis hints at behind-the-scenes work for peace in Russo-Ukrainian war”

The pope said behind-the-scenes work toward a peaceful resolution of the Russo-Ukrainian war was underway. On the 30th (local time), Pope Francis met with reporters on the plane returning to the Holy See from a visit to Hungary, telling reporters that there was “a mission going on that has not yet been made public” regarding the war in Ukraine, the news agency reported. However, he refrained from commenting on the specific details, saying, “I will tell you when I can disclose it.” He said, “I think that peace can always be achieved by opening a channel. You can’t close the door and make peace. But it is not easy,” he added. The Pope also met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Budapest’s Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion to exchange views on the situation in Ukraine. Everyone is interested in the path to peace,” he said. The pope has repeatedly expressed his desire to mediate peace between the two countries since Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February last year. Regarding the return of Ukrainian children taken away by Russia, Pope Francis said, “The Holy See wants to help bring them back. Because that’s the right thing to do,” he said. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihal visited the Vatican last week and asked the Pope to help bring back Ukrainian children. Ukrainian authorities say 19,500 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia from occupied territories. Earlier in the day, Pope Francis urged refugees to show a more open attitude in a sermon at an open-air Mass held at Kossuth Lajos Square in Budapest. “It is sad and painful to see closed doors. “We are closing our doors to others, to migrants and the poor,” he said. “It is urgent to be open and inclusive to each other.” It pointed out the situation in which European countries are in conflict over the acceptance of African refugees and raise the entry threshold for them. More than 30,000 people attended the outdoor mass that day, the Vatican said. Hungarian political leaders, including Prime Minister Orban and President Katalin Novak, also attended. Senior Reporter Park Byung-soo suh@hani.co.kr