Secretary for Relations of the Holy See with States and International Organizations Paul Richard Gallagher announced that the visit of the Pope to Ukraine could take place in August. And preparations will probably begin after his visit to Canada..

“Dad,” he said, “is very convinced that if he can make a visit, it can have positive results.. He said he would go to Ukraine and was always ready to visit Moscow and meet with the Russian authorities."

Regarding contacts with Moscow, Archbishop Gallagher said: “Our contacts with the Russian Federation during this period are more of an institutional nature through the Apostolic Nuncio in Moscow and through the Russian ambassador here at the Holy See.. Moreover, there are no big direct or personal contacts.”. He added: "

The Secretary for Relations of the Holy See with States also answered a question about ecumenical challenges and the possibility of a meeting between the Pope and Patriarch Kirill: " We must try to overcome difficulties and misunderstandings concerning the unity of the Church"

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Although Pope Francis publicly condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine, a number of his steps provoked a negative attitude towards the head of the Catholic Church among Ukrainians. In particular, in an interview with La Civilta Cattolica, he said that the head of the Kremlin was provoked in a certain way to invade Ukraine..