Vatican foreign minister plans visit to Moscow

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, is planning a visit to Moscow, TASS reports, citing a source.

The source said the visit is being planned for the latter part of August, although the programme has not yet been disclosed.

Gallagher recently visited the sites damaged by Russian strikes in Kyiv and encouraged prayers for peace.

He prayed at St. Nicholas Church before visiting an area hit by a Russian missile strike in May that killed more than 20 people, including children.

Conveying Pope Leo XIV's solidarity, he told those he met: "There is not a single day when he does not pray for Ukraine and for you, men and women of faith."

His last trip to Russia took place before the start of Russia's full-scale military operation in Ukraine.

The source also said that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, is expected to travel to Moscow in September.

Appointed by the late Pope Francis as his special envoy for Ukraine, Zuppi has been tasked with mediating humanitarian issues, including the return of children taken from conflict zones and prisoner exchanges.

Zuppi has worked closely with Russian authorities, including the office of Russia's Human Rights Commissioner, and has previously visited Moscow.

He recently told TASS that Pope Leo XIV had reaffirmed his mandate as special envoy for Ukraine.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov