The Vatican’s quiet effort to ease the war in Ukraine continues, marked by new details about the papal envoy Matteo Zuppi’s mission. His recent stops and the talks in Moscow show a path that is far from simple, with each development sparking cautious optimism and fresh questions about what might come next.
Russian officials highlighted a turning point in the narrative. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, described a closed-door meeting on Wednesday between Zuppi and Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president’s longtime adviser. While Peskov spoke of an agreement aimed at keeping channels of dialogue open, Tass, the state news agency, echoed that the dialogue had indeed continued rather than ending in a decisive breakthrough.
Yet not all feedback from Moscow was encouraging. Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, spoke with Zuppi about humanitarian issues and child protection, but she did not endorse a plan to return thousands of Ukrainian children relocated to Russia. Western officials indicated that such a return remains a contentious topic, with responsibility for the events in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia adding to the complexity of any potential exchange.
Without Putin, with Cyril
Beyond the talks with Russian officials, Zuppi’s Moscow visit did not include a meeting with Russia’s president, unlike earlier in the month when the envoy spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Instead, the key outcome came from a meeting with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Cyril, who holds significant influence close to the Kremlin and who has been a complicated figure since the war began. The pope’s envoy did not escape a cautious reception from Cyril, and the exchange underscored the delicate balance in interchurch diplomacy. Cyril’s remarks about the visit and his own private reflections were reported with interest, reflecting the uneasy proximity between Moscow’s religious and political leaders.
Observers noted that Zuppi’s effort to foster dialogue had a strategic element: maintaining lines of communication at a high level between Rome and Moscow, while also signaling to Kyiv and Western partners that the Vatican remains engaged. The pope’s outreach in this direction has drawn attention to the role of religious diplomacy in a conflict where every diplomatic move carries significant weight. Cyril’s public comments underscored that religious ties can still influence state-level conversations, even when the path to concrete compromise is uncertain.
Hopeful signs
From the church’s perspective, the mission is guided by a broader effort to mend fractured ties within the Christian world and to create space for humanitarian action. The papal entourage has emphasized dialogue with a willingness to consider a broad set of humanitarian steps, including possible prisoner exchanges and other initiatives that might reduce suffering on both sides. In Moscow, voices close to church leadership acknowledged the value of maintaining contact as a way to open future avenues for negotiation, even as sharp disagreements about policy and warfare persist.
A number of observers point to past moments when Francis used his platform to bridge divides between Catholic and Orthodox communities. The 2016 meeting between Francis and a leading Russian Orthodox figure during a visit to Cuba remains a touchstone for those who hope such encounters can help ease tensions and create a foundation for more substantial talks later. Within the Vatican, there is a sense that continued engagement at senior levels can help sustain momentum, even when immediate results are elusive.
The dialogue now turns on concrete actions. Among the possibilities discussed are renewed efforts to swap prisoners—a gesture that could build trust and create a framework for broader negotiations. Other potential steps could involve humanitarian corridors, exchange programs for civilians affected by the conflict, and practical measures to protect vulnerable populations in and around the conflict zones. These topics were the subject of ongoing discussion as Zuppi and the Moscow leadership considered the next phases of their engagement.
In Kyiv and across Western capitals, analysts will be watching closely for any tangible steps that signal a shift from dialogue to praxis. The Vatican’s involvement is often framed as a stabilizing force, but the real impact depends on the willingness of all parties to translate rhetoric into real, verifiable actions on the ground. As the talks progress, the world will remain attentive to how religious diplomacy intersects with political strategy in one of the most challenging conflicts of our time.