SW News: Pope Francis has asked Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the head of the Italian episcopal conference, to lead a Vatican-sponsored peace mission between Russia and Ukraine, according to the director of the Holy See press office.

In a brief statement, Matteo Bruni said the timing of such a mission, and its modes, are currently being studied. Bruni stated the operation will be carried out in coordination with the Secretariat of State and said that Pope Francis believes it can initiate paths of peace.

Strong ties to the powerful Sant'Egidio Community exist between Zuppi . Sant'Egidio is an ecumenical Catholic laity organization that supports immigrants. Additionally, by convening peace negotiations in nations like South Sudan and Mozambique, it has aided in the negotiation of reconciliation.

The Vatican is engaged in a covert peace mission to end the violence in Ukraine, according to Pope Francis, who made this statement at the end of April.

However, a close papal aide later corroborated the pope's assertion in an interview with an Italian news outlet that was published earlier this month. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials had been eager to deny that conversations were taking place.

Pope Francis told a group of religious people with a strong devotion to Mary that he consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2022 since the world has to learn how to love tenderly and without making calculations.

At the conclusion of their general chapter, the pope addressed the Montfort Missionaries, saying, "And to you, who are the Company of Mary, I ask you to renew this act of entrustment and this supplication."

“May our Heavenly Mother guide us all as we bravely and imaginatively search out avenues leading to reconciliation, communication, acceptance, and world peace for all people.”

In a statement, Giuseppe Baturi, Archbishop of Cagliari and Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) said: "We welcome as a sign of great confidence and with the best wishes the decision of Pope Francis. We invite the ecclesial communities and, in particular, the monasteries present on the national territory to accompany with prayer this mission that the Holy Father wanted to confer on the president of the CEI, so that it may bear fruit and help to build processes of reconciliation."