The Holy See remains committed to working towards the safe return of Ukrainian children and prisoners of war to their families.
The Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations made this announcement during the special emergency session of the General Assembly on December 3, as reported by Vatican News.
“The protracted war in Ukraine,” the statement reads, “with its profound and painful consequences, has resulted in the devastation of once-vibrant cities and the disruption of the lives of children, who should be growing up in a peaceful environment, not one afflicted by conflicts.”
The Vatican representative called for “an immediate ceasefire, which will pave the way for sincere and courageous dialogue,” to bring an end to the war, “not at some undefined moment in the future, but right now” because “ the number of victims increases, the destruction widens and the hatred deepens.”
The Holy See also urges the nations gathered at the UN to “reject passivity and provide tangible support for any initiative that could lead to genuine negotiations and lasting peace.”
The General Assembly then adopted a resolution, supported by 91 votes in favor, 12 against, and 57 abstentions, calling on Russia to “immediately, safely, and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported” and “to cease, without delay, any further practice of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families and legal guardians, change of personal status, including through citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.”
The UN General Assembly expressed “deep concern about the impact of the war on children, in particular the fate of all Ukrainian children who have been separated from their families since 2014, including those forcibly transferred within the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and those deported to the Russian Federation.”