Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is in Kiev as a Pope Francis envoy. It is a project whose principal goal is to "listen carefully to Ukrainian authorities about possible paths to a just peace and to support humanitarian gestures that contribute to easing tensions." The Kremlin has responded on the plan, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet scheduled a meeting with the cardinal. In a video produced by Avvenire, the apostolic nuncio in Kiev, Lithuanian Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, describes Zuppi's visit as follows: "First and foremost, Your Eminence will listen. Everything else will have to be decided: he will make the final decision with the Holy Father. There will be a series of meetings but mentioning them now would be discriminatory since it is more of a mission of labor and research. Then we'll decide which points to emphasis. The meetings are what he needs to concentrate on right now. We will, therefore, try to work properly." Kulbokas greeted the Pope's envoy to the apostolic nunciature, where Cardinal Zuppi's effort is based. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed gratitude for the Holy See's intervention. "We support all peace initiatives," he added, adding that "we appreciate the Holy See's efforts to promote the end of the war."
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