“Even in this summer period, let us never tire of praying for peace,” the Argentine pontiff said, asking the faithful to pray in a special way “for the people of Ukraine who are so tired”.
He referred to other wars that “are unfortunately often forgotten: the many conflicts and clashes that bloody many places on earth.
“There are so many wars,” he said.
“Let us help those who suffer; let us pray because prayer is the gentle force that protects and sustains the world.”
Last week President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Bologna Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visited Moscow as part of his efforts as the Pope’s envoy to open a path to peace in Ukraine.
The Kremlin expressed its “high appreciation” for the “balanced and impartial” position outlined by Zuppi on the situation in Ukraine, and said it is ready to discuss further proposals if they emerge, Interfax reported on Friday.
Russian presidential foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told the news agency that he met again on Friday with Zuppi to take stock of his two-day visit to Moscow.
Ushakov said there had been a “useful exchange of views” but that “no specific ideas were put forward”.
“... it was clearly suggested that the Vatican sees a logical field for its efforts,” he said.
“These are humanitarian affairs, an exchange of detained civilians, issues related to the relocation of children, and other matters of this kind.”
“[The papal envoy ] demonstrated the aspiration – and this is very important – to depoliticise all humanitarian affairs, and expressed a sincere wish to help people in distress.
“We support such sentiments of the papal representative in principle,” he said.
