Home › Security › Vatican names peace envoy for Ukraine war
Vatican names peace envoy for Ukraine war
Summary
A look back at the appointment of Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, days after a missile barrage on Kyiv.
What did the Vatican do about the war in Ukraine on 20 May 2023? It named an envoy. Pope Francis appointed Italian Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi as the Vatican's special envoy and peace envoy for the Russo-Ukrainian war.
The appointment came four days after one of the heaviest recent attacks on the Ukrainian capital. On 16 May 2023, more than a dozen explosions were reported in Kyiv as Russia launched a missile barrage at the city and other Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian forces said they had shot down six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
The two events stood side by side in the news of that week: continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, and a new diplomatic role created at the Vatican with the stated purpose of seeking peace.
