Cardinal Zuppi begins mission to Ukraine

Prisoners were given a holy card of the Salus Populi Romani icon

Source: Vatican Media

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, has begun a four-day visit to Ukraine with a stop at the Zakhid-1 detention centre in the Lviv region, where prisoners from many different countries, captured while fighting for the Russian army are held.

Bringing gifts and a message from Pope Leo XIV, he told them: "The Pope is praying for you" and expressed the hope that they would "soon return home."

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi brought three gifts to the prisoners: a keychain, with the hope that "soon you will put your house key on it, so you can open your front door and embrace your loved ones"; a holy card of the Salus Populi Romani, "for Christians, the image of Our Mother, but for everyone, an image of hope;" and a photograph of Pope Leo XIV, who "sent me here to tell you that he is praying for peace and for the war to end."

The visit marked the beginning of Cardinal Zuppi's second mission to Ukraine during the war. His first, in June 2023 at the request of Pope Francis, included meetings in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other political and Church leaders before continuing to Moscow, Washington, and Beijing.

That humanitarian mission sought to demonstrate the Church's closeness to those affected by the war while supporting efforts to return deported Ukrainian children, facilitate prisoner exchanges, and repatriate those who died.

Before traveling to Kyiv, Cardinal Zuppi, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, and Ukraine's Ambassador to the Holy See Andrii Yurash, toured the detention centre, visiting the prisoners' living quarters, chapel, and infirmary. Ambassador Yurash said the facility complies with international standards and is open to visitors wishing to inspect the conditions under which prisoners are held.

A detailed report provided by Italy's Avvenire newspaper describedthe Cardinal's visit when he greeted dozens of detainees, who come from more than 50 countries, speaking with them in French or Spanish and listening briefly to their stories. To a 25-year-old prisoner who had lost a leg, he expressed his concern and hopes that he will receive a prosthesis soon.

Repeating the purpose of his visit, Cardinal Zuppi told the prisoners: "Pope Leo sent the Nuncio and me here to bring you hope. He is praying for you, that the war may end and that you may return home."

Concluding with a prayer in the camp chapel, Cardinal Zuppi said: "Let us pray that you may soon find your way home, that all of this may come to an end, and that you may begin a new life." Pointing to his heart, he added: "We must drive out everything that is evil. God always gives us hope. Let us never allow evil to grow within us, and God will always help us overcome it."