Pope Francis Has Requested a Meeting with Putin but Has Yet to Receive a Response

Pope Francis has expressed his readiness to travel to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the resolution of the situation in Ukraine, according to TASS.

“Twenty days after the war began, I asked Cardinal Parolin to send a message to Putin, informing him that I was ready to come to Moscow. We have still not received a response and continue to insist, although I fear that Putin is unable and will not hold this meeting at the moment,” the pontiff said in an interview with the Corriere della Sera.

Francis also stated that he would not be visiting Kyiv for the time being. “I have sent Cardinals Michael Czerny and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who have gone there for the fourth time. But I feel that I should not go. I should first go to Moscow and meet with Putin,” the pontiff added.