Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, spoke at a conference on Ukraine’s “peace formula” in Montreal.
This was reported by Vatican News.
The summit on October 30 and 31 discussed the fourth point of the “formula” - the release of all prisoners and deportees.
Archbishop Gallagher noted that the Holy See has been carrying out this mission since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine, having received numerous requests for such mediation from the Ukrainian authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first appealed to the diplomatic network of the Holy See regarding the release of over 19,000 Ukrainian minors forcibly taken to Russia and the exchange of prisoners.
Diplomatic efforts resulted in the release of two Ukrainian Redemptorists and the return of a group of minors.
During an audience at the Vatican on October 11, the President of Ukraine reiterated his request for the Pope’s assistance.
Humanitarian mediation was “the primary objective of Cardinal Zuppi's mission to Kyiv and Moscow”. Matteo Zuppi visited Kyiv and Moscow in the summer of 2023 for this purpose and made a second visit to Moscow in October of this year. According to Gallagher, this mission “has led to the creation of a framework for the repatriation of children and the regular exchange of information between the two parties". This also included online meetings with the participation of the apostolic nuncios in both countries.” Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas in Ukraine and Archbishop Giovanni d’Aniello in Russia.
Archbishop Gallagher noted that the results of all these efforts are “unsatisfactory,” but “the direct contact between the parties, especially with the presence of the two apostolic nuncios, is helpful in facilitating dialogue.”
In particular, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States reported that Archbishop Kulbokas “has identified the Catholic institutions ready to welcome families with repatriated minors.” Meanwhile, “the Holy See reiterates its requests for new lists of children.” In addition, the Vatican forwarded thousands of names of prisoners to the parties, calling for their exchange and release. It also supports the proposal to establish joint medical commissions for prisoners with serious medical conditions. The Holy See backs the request of the families of Ukrainian prisoners to deliver humanitarian aid to them and calls on Russia to return the deceased Ukrainian soldiers.
Monsignor Gallagher informed the conference that Nuncio Visvaldas Kulbokas had “visited some of the Russian prisoners in Ukraine, noting their good conditions.” A similar assurance regarding the conditions of Ukrainian prisoners was given by the Ombudswoman of the Russian Federation - the civic defender of Russia, officially appointed as the Commissioner for Human Rights - “but the Holy See is unable to verify their situation.”
In the conclusion of his report, Archbishop Gallagher urged “the parties to refrain from any instrumentalization of humanitarian issues” and reiterated “the need for a commitment to finding solutions to humanitarian emergencies also as a goodwill gesture towards peace.”