His presence is part of efforts to seek a peaceful solution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a statement from the Holy See.
Zuppi is accompanied on the three-day visit by an official from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.
The purpose of the mission, according to the statement, is to “promote peace in Ukraine”.
The visit “seeks to facilitate the exchange of ideas and opinions regarding the current tragic situation, as well as to provide support for humanitarian initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable people, particularly children,” read the statement.
The visit to the US capital comes after Cardinal Zuppi’s previous visits to Kyiv and Moscow in June in order to identify humanitarian initiatives “that could open up paths to achieving peace”.
After the first mission to Kyiv, during which the cardinal met with representatives of the civilian and religious authorities and with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Vatican said the talks would “undoubtedly be useful in evaluating the steps to be continued to be taken both at the humanitarian level and in the search for paths to a just and lasting peace.”
During the second mission to Moscow Zuppi met with Russia’s ombudswoman for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova and twice with President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, among others.
“During these meetings, the humanitarian aspect of the initiative was strongly emphasised, as well as the urgency to be able to attain that peace that is highly desired,” said the Holy See in a statement issued after the mission.
For his part, Ushakov said in an interview to Interfax news agency after the second meeting with Zuppi that their discussion had been “useful for both sides”.
“No specific ideas were put forward, but it was clearly suggested that the Vatican sees a logical field for its efforts,” he continued.
“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,” added Ushakov, saying he noted at the meeting that Moscow “appreciates the balanced and impartial stance of the Vatican”.
ANSA
