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'

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