Papal envoy heads to Ukraine to 'listen carefully' to possible peace plans

FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), holds a press conference at the end of the CEI General assembly, at the Vatican, May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, tasked by Pope Francis to carry out a peace mission to try to help end the war in Ukraine, headed to Kyiv on Monday for a two-day trip to sound out government authorities.

The Vatican announced his visit, which many observers see as an uphill effort, in a short statement. It said the main purpose was "to listen carefully to Ukrainian authorities on the possible ways to reach a just peace and support humanitarian gestures that may help ease tensions".