Returning Ukrainian children home key priority: Vatican

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Returning Ukrainian children home is a key priority for the Vatican, a senior Vatican official said Wednesday, according to the Vatican news agency.

“The children must be able to return to Ukraine. Thus, the next step will be first to check on the children and then to see how to get them back, starting with the most fragile ones,” papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi said about his missions to Ukraine and Russia.

Zuppi visited Ukraine on June 5 - 6 “to achieve a just peace and support gestures of humanity that will help ease tensions,” and met senior Ukrainian officials and civil and religious authorities.

On June 28 - 30, he visited Moscow “to identify humanitarian initiatives that could open up paths to achieving peace,” as announced by the Vatican.

Zuppi confirmed he informed Pope Francis of the missions upon their completion.