The Pope's men on the front line
These are some of the not-so-in-headlines prelates working for peace in Ukraine.
The day after Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022 a very unusual event took place. The Pope left the Vatican and visited the residence of the Russian ambassador to the Holy See. The content of what was discussed at that meeting remains confidential, but it is clear that Francis was making an extraordinary gesture to the then Russian ambassador, Aleksandr Avdayev, in the face of a situation that placed all of Europe on the brink of a war with unforeseeable consequences.
Since then the Vatican has played an active mediating role. In what is known, with little success because the war continues two and a bit years later, but in the diplomatic world, and especially as far as Vatican diplomacy is concerned, patience and not giving in to discouragement is not a virtue, it is practically an obligation and a working method.
Without speculation (we at Borgo Pio have solemnly promised ourselves not to do so); the Holy See is working on three concrete lines of resolution of the conflict in a known way. Two of them serve to alleviate the level of confrontation and the other is of full scope.
-Prisoner exchange between the parties.
-Release of religious prisoners and minors held by Russia.
-Interlocution with the Russian Orthodox Church to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Dozens of people work in this huge diplomatic operation that sometimes involves organisms beyond the Vatican Secretariat of State. Some names are often in the news. The most prominent are probably the Secretary of State himself, Cardinal Pietro Parolin —who this week visited Ukraine for the first time since 2021, that is, before the beginning of the war— and the president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who has been entrusted by Pope Francis with a “peace mission” without tangible results yet.
Other names appear less in the media, but their profiles are very interesting and worth following. Here is a short list.
Archbishop Paolo Pezzi
Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Moscow, has played a crucial role in fostering dialogue between Russia and the Vatican amid the Ukraine war. He has been instrumental in conveying the Vatican's messages and facilitating communications aimed at promoting peace and humanitarian efforts. His position allows him to engage with both Russian authorities and the Catholic community.
In March 2022, Archbishop Pezzi met with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, to discuss the Vatican's call for peace and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. This meeting was part of ongoing efforts to maintain open communication channels between the Vatican and the Russian government. After making a public appeal for peace during a special prayer service in Moscow, he pointed a key issue: the importance of humanitarian corridors. Meanwhile he was supporting the provision of food, medical supplies, and shelter to refugees. These efforts have been conducted in collaboration with Caritas Russia and other charitable organizations.
Archbishop Pezzi has meet officially several times (last one in February) Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, maybe the man most respected by president Putin. In April held a series of meetings with high-ranking Russian government officials, including the Foreign Minister and other key policymakers. These discussions focused on the humanitarian impact of the war and the importance of resuming peace talks. Last month the archbishop organized and participated in an interfaith peace conference in Moscow. The purpose again is to involve the Orthodox Church in a peace process.
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is the Papal Almoner. Just few days after the Russian invasion in 2022, Cardinal Krajewski visited Ukraine on a humanitarian mission, delivering medical supplies, food, and other essential aid to those affected by the conflict. Under the bombs, he visited cities like Kyiv and Lviv, meeting with Ukrainian government officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss the humanitarian situation and the need for international support.
Last April, Krajewski again undertook a perilous mission to Eastern Ukraine, visiting conflict zones and delivering aid directly to affected communities. He met with local leaders and church representatives to assess the situation on the ground. In June, Krajewski participated in a joint humanitarian initiative with the Russian Orthodox Church, focusing on aid distribution and supporting displaced populations.
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk is the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). In March 2022, Sviatoslav met with Pope Francis in Rome to discuss the situation in Ukraine and was charged with the mission of providing humanitarian aid and supporting the Ukrainian people and building channels of communication with the Orthodox Church. In January 2023, Sviatoslav organized an interfaith prayer service in Kyiv, and in May the same year participated in a private meeting with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church in a undisclosed neutral country, facilitated by international mediators. In April 2024, Sviatoslav visited displaced communities in western Ukraine. Throughout 2024, made several visits to frontline areas and conflict zones within Ukraine to provide spiritual support to soldiers and civilians, and to oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Cardinal Michael Czerny
Cardinal Michael Czerny is the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. In May 2022, visited refugee camps in Poland and Hungary, meeting with Ukrainian refugees and local authorities to understand their needs better and coordinate aid efforts. In January 2023, Cardinal Czerny met with Metropolitan Hilarion in Moscow and in September 2023, organized an international conference on humanitarian aid in Rome, bringing together representatives from various countries, NGOs, and religious organizations to discuss the Ukraine crisis and coordinate efforts. In February 2024, launched a Vatican-led peacebuilding initiative that included dialogues with Russian and Ukrainian representatives, as well as other international stakeholders. Finally, in April this year visited Ukraine to meet with IDPs (Internal Displaced Person, someone who has been forced to leave their home but stays in their own country) and local aid organizations. He assessed the needs on the ground and coordinated additional support from the Vatican, including medical supplies, food, and shelter.
Archbishop Paul Gallagher
Archbishop Paul Gallagher is the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States. Less than a month after the Russian invasion Archbishop Gallagher met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the Vatican's stance on the Ukraine war, emphasizing the need for a immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridors. Some days after this meeting he visited Ukraine, meeting with Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. An indirect communication channel between the two enemy foreign ministers was stablished. In January 2023, Gallagher engaged in discussions with Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church to explore avenues for joint efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation. In September 2023, Gallagher represented the Vatican at the United Nations General Assembly —recall here the post on why the Holy See should perhaps become a full member of the UN— where he reiterated the Holy See's call for peace and respect for international law in Ukraine.
In February 2024, Gallagher visited Moscow again, meeting with high-ranking Russian officials to discuss humanitarian issues and the importance of dialogue in resolving the conflict. Last month he participated in an interfaith peace conference in Vienna, which included representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and other nations. The conference aimed to foster dialogue and propose practical steps towards reconciliation.
Looking at the activity of these men of the Pope (who, we insist, form a second line, but there are many more people involved in more discreet positions) it is easy to glimpse a constant Vatican activity since the beginning of the war. Diplomacy is not always in the news and probably this is one of the secrets of that job.