The Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietr Parolin says the Vatican will continue to help Ukraine in the humanitarian area and will make efforts to bring back prisoners of war and children.
He said this in a video address to the participants of the meeting dedicated to the peace plan offered by President Volodymyr Zelensky and the achievement of peace in Ukraine, which was held in Malta, Ukrinform reports with reference to Vatican News.
Commenting on the initiative, whose previous rounds took place in Copenhagen and Jeddah, Cardinal Parolin said it was a “laudable effort that deserves support” not only because it seeks concrete answers to mend the damage caused by war, but also because “encourages us not to consider armed confrontation as an inevitable tool for conflict resolution.”
“After all, this is exactly the fundamental truth that the Holy See has repeatedly proclaimed in the face of the wars that have torn the world apart in the most recent periods of history. The call for peace was renewed by Pope Francis with unprecedented persistence, both in his countless speeches and through actions in support of Ukraine,” Cardinal Parolin recalled, noting that the participation of representatives of numerous states and international organizations shows that “we have not come to terms with a tragedy unfolding before our eyes, and that we have the courage to look it in the eye.”
“The search for a solution is not only Ukraine’s responsibility, but also a joint responsibility,” the head of Vatican diplomacy emphasized.
Noting that multiple international actors are making efforts so that “Ukraine can protect the integrity of its territory, provide its citizens with security and life necessities, as well as achieve the desired peace”, Cardinal Parolin regretfully admitted that the result is still a long way off.
Therefore, he said, even greater and more creative “efforts at all levels” are required to overcome obstacles and open paths that might seem unacceptable or impossible.
“Taking into account its nature and mission and leaving political issues to the discretion of governments, which is their prerogative, the Holy See calls for respect for international law, especially regarding territorial integrity, and encourages all initiatives aimed at finding a just and stable peace in Ukraine,” he added.
Regarding the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which is the subject of the conference, the State Secretary assured the support of the Holy See “in solving humanitarian issues, such as food security and preservation of the environment”, as well as readiness “to continue the efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Ukrainian people and returning prisoners of war and children to Ukraine”.
As reported, on October 28-29, the third Peace Summit regarding Ukraine was held in Malta involving the leaders of the countries of the Global South at the level of foreign policy and national security advisers.
During the international consultations on the key principles of peace in Ukraine and around world, the holding of the Global Peace Summit at the level of heads of state and government was discussed.
China did not participate in the inaugural talks on the Ukrainian Peace Formula in June in Copenhagen, but in August, the special representative of the Chinese government for Eurasia issues, Li Huey, attended the meeting in Jeddah.
