Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

Vatican envoy in Moscow, Metropolitan Pavel's arrest extended

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Jun 2023 19:53
5 Min Read

The Papal envoy to Moscow has met with multiple Russian officials during a peace-bringing trip while Pope Francis met, in Rome, with members of a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

  • x
  • Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops) speaks with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 29, 2023. (AP)
    Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops) speaks with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 29, 2023. (AP)

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna serving as Pope Francis' peace envoy, arrived in Moscow, Russia, on June 28 for a two-day visit with the goal of “identifying humanitarian initiatives that could open up paths to achieving peace."

Cardinal Zuppi met with a number of Russian officials, including some that have been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and a statement was released which stated that the Cardinal met with Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for Foreign Policy Affairs, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner to the President of the Russian Federation for Children’s Rights, as well as Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Kirill.

“During these meetings,” the statement read, “the humanitarian aspect of the initiative was strongly emphasized, as well as the urgency to be able to attain that peace that is highly desired.”

On June 29, Lvova-Belova wrote on her Telegram channel, "I met with President of the Italian Bishops' Conference Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. [We] discussed humanitarian issues related to military action and the protection of children's rights."

As for Ushakov, the Kremlin aide, the two had "exchanged opinions and information on humanitarian issues in the context of Ukraine," however, it was noted that "the meeting yielded no specific agreement, and the dialogue may continue, if needed." 

The Pope's envoy also stated that he "had a fruitful encounter with His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’, to whom he conveyed the Holy Father’s greeting and with whom he also discussed humanitarian initiatives that may facilitate a peaceful solution."

In turn, videos from Telegram indicated that Kirill, at the beginning of his meeting with Cardinal Zuppi, said, "Your Eminence, I am very pleased that you have come to Moscow accompanied by comrades whom I know well. We appreciate that His Holiness has sent you specifically to Moscow. You lead one of the largest dioceses in Italy and you are a very well-known archpastor serving your people."

In Moscow, the Cardinal “also met with the Bishops of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia, with whom, together with a large group of priests and in the presence of Ambassadors and Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he presided over a solemn concelebration in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God, in Moscow. This was an opportunity to convey the Holy Father's closeness, his remembrance of them, and prayers for the Catholic community.”

Pope Francis warns delegation from Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople war has 'no end'

Related News

Ukraine moves to ban Orthodox Church over alleged Moscow ties

Kiev accused of using Russian woman in suicide bomb plot: FSB

Significantly, Pope Francis, on June 30, met with members of a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople who had come to Rome for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul.

During their meeting, Pope Francis emphasized that war has "no end" and that peace must prevail.

Read more: Kirill: Russia, Ukraine are one nation, church persecution 'pathetic'

Pope Francis warned the delegation from the Patriarch of Constantinople, making reference to the war in Ukraine, that "the tragic reality of this war that seems to have no end demands of everyone a common creative effort to imagine and forge paths of peace."

Moreover, the Pontiff reaffirmed the need to share concerns between Eastern and Western churches and stressed that this included the “overriding concern for peace, especially in wartorn Ukraine.”

Metropolitan Pavel's house arrest extended

On June 30, the Solomianskyi District Court of Kiev approved a request by the prosecutor to extend the house arrest of the Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Pavel, by 24 hours, in addition to wearing a bracelet for another two months.

This came after earlier in April of 2023, Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, was sentenced to 60-days of house arrest, and the clergy of the Cathedral of Khmelnytskyi was charged with "hooliganism".

It is worth noting that Country.UA reported that Metropolitan Pavel had stated that prior to his charging with suspicion and incitement, he was offered a deal.

"I was told that if I did not oppose Epiphanius and support the transition of the monks of the Lavra to the OCU, all cases against me would be closed," Pavel said, according to the news outlet.

To put things into perspective, Metropolitan Pavel serves as the head of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate and was offered to abandon the Moscow Patriarchate and follow Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev and All Ukraine.

Epiphanius used to serve under the UOC Kiev Patriarchate but now serves as the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a partially recognized Eastern Orthodox Church that gained its independence in 2019 after Bartholomew I of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople granted a tomos of autocephaly, which serves as a decree of ecclesial independence, to the Church.

Read more: How the war on the Moscow Patriarchate is a war on collective identity

  • Moscow
  • Russia
  • Sanctions on Russia
  • war in Ukraine
  • Pope Francis
  • Patriarch of Constantinople
  • Ukraine
  • Vatican
  • Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS