Moscow wants to prevent a papal visit to Ukraine. That is what the Ukrainian Ambassador at the Vatican, Andriy Jurasch said.
Jurasch: “Russia is trying in every possible way that such a visit would be unacceptable for the Kremlin because it would be a clear sign of support for Ukraine.” The Ukrainian Ambassador believes that a papal visit to Ukraine would be a “message to end the war”, Die Tagespost writes. According to the news agency, Jurasch said that “the prayer of the most influential religious leader in the world in the oldest St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, would be not only a prayer for peace but also a call to all countries to help Ukraine and rebuild the country.”
Safety is not an issue, Jurasch expects. “Ukraine will do everything to ensure the Pope's safety. Russia would do the same because it would understand the symbolic meaning of the visit.”
Mayor Kyiv and President Zelensky invited Pope to visit
Recently, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv invited the Pope to visit the country, RIA.ru reports. Mayor Vitali Klitschko did so in a letter in March. He added that, if the Pope would be unable to come in person, he could organise a special video conference between the Vatican and Kyiv.
Earlier, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky personally invited the Pope to visit Ukraine, Catholic News Agency reported. In a video message in March, he said that he invited Pope Francis “at this most crucial time.” Zelensky added that he believes that Ukraine and the Pope “will be able to organise this important visit, which will support each of us, every Ukrainian.”
“Option is on the table”
In a press meeting on Sunday, journalists asked the Pope whether he was indeed planning a visit to Ukraine. The Pope, who had just returned from a visit to Malta told them that the option of him visiting Kyiv “was still on the table.”
In addition, he also continued to denounce Russia's invasion without mentioning the name of Putin, Catholic News Agency reports.
Before and during his trip to Malta, the Pope repeatedly said he was open to visiting Kyiv. Yet, he has been careful to make promises about a possible visit. “It is there as one of the proposals, but I do not know whether it can be done, if it is worthwhile to go, and if it will be for the best and most useful.”
Nevertheless, the Pope added that it was likely that his envoy, papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, would likely travel to Poland to meet Ukrainian refugees. Krajewski has been in Ukraine twice since last February.
Ukrainian Catholic hopes Pope will visit soon
Supreme Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said that he hopes the Pope will visit Kyiv “as soon as possible.” That was reported by Catholic News Agency. In a statement, Shevchuk said on April 4 that the local Catholic Church and government officials were “working to ensure that the Holy Father's visit to Ukraine takes place.” Now he added that a visit of the Pope during the war could be “a powerful gesture for peace.” “We are waiting for him with sincerity”, the archbishop concluded.
Message for Putin
During the press conference after the trip to Malta, journalists also asked whether Pope Francis had a message for Putin, Catholic News Agency reports.
The Pope replied that everything he says to the Russian authorities is public and added that he spoke to the Russian president last year “when he called to say happy birthday.”
