Cindy Wooden

– In encouraging the peaceful resolution of conflicts and in promoting the common good on the international stage, the Vatican embraces a strategy of “positive neutrality,” which allows it to dialogue with all sides, Pope Francis said.

After literally hundreds of public prayers for peace in Ukraine and 443 days after Russia launched an all-out war on the Eastern European country, Pope Francis welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Vatican.

When Pope Francis told reporters the Vatican had some kind of “mission” underway to promote an end to the war in Ukraine, journalists naturally were intrigued.