Vatican's Top Diplomat to Visit Moscow Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

VATICAN CITY, August 6. /TASS/. Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, is scheduled to visit Moscow at the end of this month, according to a Vatican source cited by TASS. "The visit to Moscow by Monsignor Gallagher is planned for August 20th," the source stated. While the specific itinerary has not been disclosed, it was noted that the Vatican's top diplomat recently visited Kiev, where discussions primarily centered on humanitarian issues. Gallagher's last official visit to Russia occurred before the onset of the military operation in Ukraine. Additionally, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian Bishops' Conference, is preparing for a new trip to Moscow in September. Appointed by Pope Francis as a special envoy for Ukraine, Zuppi has been tasked with mediating humanitarian concerns, including the return of children evacuated from conflict zones and prisoner exchanges. During his previous visit to Moscow, he collaborated closely with Russian authorities, including the office of the Russian Human Rights Commissioner. Zuppi has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV authorized his mission, and he has worked closely with Russian officials in pursuit of these humanitarian efforts.