Pope open to helping return Ukrainian children in Russia

Pope Francis said Sunday the Vatican would do “all that is humanly possible” to reunite Ukrainian children transferred to Russia during the war.

“All human gestures help. Francis declared in an aerial press conference that brutality doesn’t help.

Francis revealed a covert peace “mission.” When asked if he discussed peace ideas with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or the Russian Orthodox Church representative in Budapest this weekend, he did not respond.

Francis said, “Anything.” “I’ll talk about a mission when it’s public.”

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s children’s commissioner for war crimes in abducting Ukrainian children.

Russia claims it moved the children for their safety.

Last week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal asked Francis to help return Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
“I asked His Holiness to help us return home Ukrainians, Ukrainian children who are detained, arrested, and criminally deported to Russia,” Shmyhal told the Foreign Press Association following the audience.

Francis reminded Ukraine that the Holy See had arranged prisoner exchanges through embassies and was willing to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.

Prisoner swaps went successfully. This could work too. He said family reunifications crucial. “The Holy See is available to do it because it’s right,” he added. “We must do our best.” ___

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