Pope says Vatican involved in secret Ukraine peace mission

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis arrives to the Church of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary to meet with the poor and with refugees during his apostolic journey in Budapest, Hungary, April 29, 2023. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) -The Vatican is involved in a peace mission to try to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Pope Francis said on Sunday, adding that it was also ready to help repatriate Ukrainian children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied land.

"There is a mission in course now but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it," the pope told reporters during a flight home after a three-day visit to Hungary.