Gallagher in Moscow, Kiev nuncio: “The mission is good, but global diplomacy is needed for peace”

But “the Holy See cannot alone” succeed in putting an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, “we need a working group with partner countries that have an interest in the solution” of the war, i.e. “Europe, the United States, China, Japan, India”. Thus the apostolic nuncio to Kiev, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, comments with Adnkronos on Gallagher’s mission in Moscow, noting that what is missing today is a “common diplomacy” at an international level.

“The Holy See alone perhaps cannot bring many results”

“It is part of the role of the Holy See to seek all possible ways to rebuild peace. And this initiative must be included in the attempt to see what is missing for peace, what can be done, encouraged, insisted. If it can truly contribute to peace” Gallagher’s mission, “I hope so, we must put hope in it, the rest will be revealed by the history of facts”. But “in my opinion peace requires very demanding, very meticulous, very careful work,” says Kulbokas, adding that “in my opinion the Holy See alone perhaps cannot bring many results. We must have the cooperation of other partners” and for this reason “I believe that we must work as united as possible among countries, among international organizations, among those who are not indifferent to this situation”. Because, the nuncio believes, “the more we unite in working for peace, the more the chances of achieving it grow”.

Regarding the partners of the Holy See who could make a difference, Kulbokas thinks first of all of a role for the “United Nations, they should take up their vocation more seriously”. And “then the entire European continent, countries like the United States, like China, then other countries: Brazil, India, Canada, Japan, all those who can give support to peace initiatives”. But, continues the archbishop, “sometimes I have the impression that many countries are occupied with their own difficulties and internal problems, therefore that there is no common diplomacy capable of dedicating sufficient time and energy to the issue of peace”.

Kulbokas “would like a real dedicated working group with more commitment, with more time and energy for peace.” The Holy See, for its part, “also works alone to give more traction, to promote initiatives, but achieving a result alone is difficult”.

In any case, the channel of dialogue that the Kremlin has opened with the Holy See is “certainly important”, “sometimes we start with small things and if we put in the effort, we often manage to build bigger things”. Before traveling to Russia, Gallagher was in Ukraine from July 16 to 21. “Ukrainian politicians told me that they were very happy with the negotiations at the beginning of the year, but then unfortunately they stopped. They wanted to resume them, but the United States and other partners had all their attention elsewhere, in the Middle Eastern region and not in Ukraine, unfortunately. This is the reality now,” concluded Kulbokas.