Pope Francis is considering visiting Ukraine to express his support, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican Andriy Yurash said following the meeting on Saturday.
“I am very close to Ukraine and I want to express this closeness through my visit to Ukraine” – important words of Pope Francis, spoken during today’s meeting with the Holy Father. Ukraine has been waiting for the Pope for many years, especially since the beginning of the war, and will be glad to meet him before his trip to Kazakhstan,” Yurash wrote on Twitter.
Pope Francis has called for the unblocking of grain exports from Ukraine, stopped due to the blockade of its seaports by Russian warships, since the lives of millions of people depend on food supplies, and it cannot be used as a weapon.
He made the corresponding appeal at a general audience on June 1, according to the website of the VaticanNews agency.
“The blockade of grain exports from Ukraine, on which the lives of millions of people depend, especially in the poorest countries, is a cause for great concern. I warmly appeal to do everything possible to solve this problem and guarantee the universal right to food. Please do not use grain, a staple food product as a weapon in war!” he urged.
As reported, on the eve of the leaders of the European Union called on Russia to lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, allowing the export of food, as well as the EU countries to facilitate the transportation of Ukrainian agricultural exports.
Ukraine expects Pope’s visit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“I really wanted him to come from the very beginning, to support our people in the east of the country. I wanted him to try to unblock the humanitarian corridors to Mariupol,” said Zelensky.
According to him, the Ukrainian side addressed the Holy See with such a request.
“It is too early to tell, but we are waiting for him. We are waiting because he has a mission – a mission from God. He is trusted by a large number of people, I think this is important,” said the President at a press conference in Kyiv Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he has invited Pope Francis to visit Ukraine.
“In the morning, I spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis about the search for peace for Ukraine, for our state, about the atrocities of the invaders, about humanitarian corridors to the surrounded cities. I thanked His Holiness for a clear and strong position against the war and for prayers for Ukraine. I invited him to visit our state at this crucial time. I believe that we will be able to organize this important visit, which will definitely support every one of us,” Zelensky said in a video address in the early hours of Wednesday.
Zelensky said earlier that he would welcome the Vatican’s role as a mediator to stop human suffering in Ukraine.
