According to Pope Francis, the Vatican is engaged in a covert peace mission to try to put an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. He also stated that the Vatican was prepared to assist in the repatriation of Ukrainian children who had been abducted to Russia or territory under Russian control.
"There is a mission in course now but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it," the pope told reporters on Sunday, April 30 during a flight home after a three-day visit to Hungary.
Pope Francis has prayed for peace practically weekly since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has frequently stated his desire to serve as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. His proposal hasn't resulted in any significant progress so far.
"I think that peace is always made by opening channels. You can never achieve peace through closure. ... This is not easy."
The pope further stated that he had discussed the situation in Ukraine with both Metropolitan (bishop) Hilarion, a leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
"In these meetings, we did not just talk about Little Red Riding Hood. We spoke of all these things. Everyone is interested in the road to peace," he said.
Pope Francis, 86, has already declared his desire to travel to Moscow and Kyiv on a mission of peace.
Denys Shmyhal, the prime minister of Ukraine, met with Pope Francis on Thursday at the Vatican. He claimed to have discussed a "peace formula" proposed by Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
"The Holy See is willing to do this (help repatriate the children) because it is the right thing," Francis said on the plane. "All human gestures help but gestures of cruelty don't help. We have to do all that is humanly possible".
Francis, who seemed to be doing okay while on the trip, also talked about his health after being admitted to the hospital in late March.
At the conclusion of his general audience on 29 March, he claimed he experienced severe pain and tried to fall asleep.
"I did not lose consciousness but I had a high fever and at 3 pm the doctor took me to the hospital right away," he said.
The pneumonia in the bottom part of the lung was severe and acute. Thank God, I can discuss it. Thank God, the body responded favourably to the therapy. On April 1st, he was freed.