Cardinal Zuppi begins mission to Ukraine, prays for end to war

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), has begun a four-day visit to Ukraine with a stop at the Zakhid-1 detention center in the Lviv region, where prisoners captured while fighting for the Russian army are held. Bringing gifts and a message from Pope Leo XIV, he told them: “The Pope is praying for you” and expressed the hope that they would “soon return home.”

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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Jan Szymański

I hope that these gifts and words really brought them some comfort in such a place. I wonder if the cardinal will also manage to reach our soldiers on the other side.

James Bennett

I hope those prisoners felt a bit of real comfort from the gifts and the Pope’s words — being stuck in a place like that has to be rough. Interesting that Zuppi started there instead of Kyiv. Praying the whole trip actually helps move things toward peace.

Grace Clark

I get why starting at the detention center feels surprising, but it makes sense if the goal is to show evenhanded concern right away. Those guys are probably having the worst time of it. I hope the gifts and the Pope’s message gave them at least a small sense of not being totally forgotten.

Elizabeth Taylor

I agree, starting with those prisoners does feel like a deliberate first step. My cousin visited a similar facility years ago and said even small gifts like soap and chocolate made the men tear up. Hope the cardinal’s trip brings something practical back for both sides.

Hannah King

I get why starting with the prisoners feels intentional — a small human touch like soap or chocolate can cut through a lot. My uncle was a POW in the '70s and still talks about the first decent bar of chocolate someone slipped him. Did your cousin say if the guards let them keep the gifts long-term?

Sarah Evans

My cousin mentioned the prisoners seemed genuinely surprised by the chocolate and soap, but he wasn't sure how long the guards would let them hold onto it. That POW story from your uncle rings true though – those small things stick with you. Did he ever get to keep anything from those years?

Irene Wilson

Small kindnesses do stay with people. My cousin said the prisoners lit up at the chocolate especially, though he doubted the guards would let it last. Has your uncle kept any mementos from his time as a POW?

Paul Davis

Yeah, those little things like chocolate can really stick in your mind in a place like that. My uncle still has a tiny wooden cross one of the guards carved for him — keeps it in his wallet after all these years. Did your cousin mention if the prisoners were able to keep any of the gifts?

Laura Lewis

My uncle was in a camp too, back in his day, and he always said the smallest kindnesses stayed with him longest. Funny how a bit of chocolate or a carved cross can mean more than big speeches. Did your cousin say whether the men seemed surprised by the visit?

Emily Walker

Yeah, those small things do stick with you. My cousin said a few of the guys tucked the chocolate away right away like it was gold, but the guards collected most of the other gifts for later. Did your uncle ever say what the cross smelled like after all that time in his wallet?

George Evans

My cousin said most of them looked stunned at first, like they couldn't believe someone from the West had come all that way just to talk to them. The chocolate and little icons went fast, same as your uncle remembered. Did he ever mention if the carved crosses were made by the prisoners themselves or brought in?