Cardinal Zuppi visits Russia to urge release of Ukrainian prisoners
Pope Leo XIV appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi to lead a Vatican delegation to Russia from Sept. 28–30. Zuppi is urging the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and addressing the plight of children separated from their families. The cardinal said the mission continues humanitarian dialogue with both Ukrainian and Russian sides to ease suffering and help end the war. The visit follows Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Gallagher’s August trip to Russia to discuss a peaceful resolution.
2 days ago
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is in Russia on a Vatican humanitarian mission, appointed by Pope Leo XIV to press for the release of Ukrainian prisoners and address other wartime humanitarian concerns. The Sept. 28–30 visit is part of the Holy See’s ongoing efforts to support dialogue and respond to people affected by the war. 1
Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, is leading a Vatican delegation. He said the mission includes work concerning prisoners of war and children separated from their families, and that the Holy See is considering requests from both Ukrainian and Russian sides through dialogue already underway. 1
Zuppi described the assignment as a humanitarian mission first entrusted to him by Pope Francis and later confirmed by Pope Leo XIV. He said the Vatican hopes to develop dialogue and contribute to ending the suffering caused by the war. 1
This is Zuppi’s third visit to Russia as a papal envoy. Pope Francis appointed him to the role in 2023, and he returned to Russia in 2024; Zuppi also visited Ukraine in July 2025, where he met Russian prisoners of war held there. 1
The visit follows a trip to Russia by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations. Gallagher visited from Aug. 25–28 to meet senior Russian officials and discuss a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 1*
The Catholic Church’s moral role in humanitarian diplomacy and peacebuilding during war
The Catholic Church’s moral role in humanitarian diplomacy and peacebuilding is to defend the dignity of every person, reduce suffering during war, and keep open paths toward a just peace. It does not treat war as morally acceptable simply because it is politically useful: even when a nation exercises legitimate self-defence, force must be proportionate and civilians must not be treated as expendable.
The Church insists that a person’s worth does not depend on nationality, military status, or which side they are on. Pope Leo XIV describes Holy See diplomacy as applying mercy in political affairs by defending human dignity and speaking for the poor, migrants, and victims of war. This moral stance challenges language that reduces civilian deaths to statistics or “collateral damage”: behind each loss are people, families, and futures harmed by war.
That conviction has practical consequences. The Church urges states to uphold international humanitarian law—the rules intended to limit suffering in armed conflict—and argues that military or strategic interests cannot excuse disregard for it. Attacks on civilians and the destruction of hospitals, homes, and essential infrastructure are condemned because they endanger life and undermine the conditions needed for recovery. The Church’s moral witness is therefore not only a call for compassion; it also calls governments and combatants to meet obligations they have undertaken.
Holy See diplomacy seeks to make space for dialogue and mediation, not to impose a political settlement by force. Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that international forums should enable people and nations to meet, speak clearly, and pursue cooperation; dialogue is necessary both to prevent conflict and to resist the claim that military force should determine whose interests prevail. The Holy See’s diplomatic voice also appeals to conscience, urging parties to seek solutions that are consensual, just, and stable rather than dictated by arms.
This role is morally significant but not the same as acting as a government or commanding the parties to a conflict. The Church can advocate, mediate, call attention to neglected victims, and encourage international cooperation; its influence depends on persuasion, moral credibility, and the willingness of political actors to respond. Its diplomacy is most faithful to its mission when it speaks for people who otherwise risk being ignored, rather than simply aligning itself with a powerful party or national interest.
Peacebuilding begins amid the suffering of war. Catholic institutions, religious communities, and lay organizations can provide practical help such as shelter, food, and medical care; in Ukraine, for example, the Holy See and Catholic organizations have provided assistance to people affected by the conflict. Such service embodies the principle that care is owed to people in need, not only to those belonging to one’s own group.
The Church also stresses the importance of protecting children and families. In its appeal concerning Ukraine, the Holy See called for children not to be used as instruments of war or propaganda and emphasized family reunification and their best interests. The moral point is broader: relief work should preserve people’s agency and help communities recover, rather than treating them merely as passive recipients. John Paul II linked humanitarian support to restoring confidence and helping affected peoples take charge of their future.
A ceasefire can stop immediate violence, but it does not by itself resolve the conditions that may renew conflict. Catholic peacebuilding therefore includes reconciliation, reconstruction, and attention to underlying injustices. Pope Francis identified hunger, poverty, and exploitative conditions as among the roots that can feed conflict, and argued that peace requires addressing such causes as well as the weapons themselves. John Paul II likewise emphasized rebuilding countries and restoring confidence so that people can move from fear toward hope and participate in shaping their future.
Reconciliation does not mean ignoring wrongdoing or demanding that victims simply forget. It means refusing to regard an adversary as a person who may be destroyed, while seeking conditions in which justice and renewed civic life can become possible. Pope Francis urged Christians to build bridges, look for openings for mediation, and remember the dignity of every person even in war. In this sense, the Church’s contribution is both immediate and long-term: protect human beings now, and help form the moral and social conditions in which a durable peace can take root.