ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM HUNGARY (CNS): The Holy See has a project underway related to peace between Russia and Ukraine, but Pope Francis told reporters travelling with him from Budapest, Hungary, back to Rome on April 30.
“There is a mission underway that is not public yet; when it is public, I will tell you about it,” the pope told reporters.
On his two-hour flight back to Rome from Budapest, Pope Francis spent about 20 minutes answering questions.
Asked if he had spoken about peace in Ukraine or sought contacts with Moscow during his meetings with Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and with Russia Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary, the pope responded that “peace is made by opening channels. You cannot create peace with closure. I invite everyone to open doors, channels of friendship.”
As for his conversation with Metropolitan Hilarion, the pope said, “well, we weren’t talking about Little Red Riding Hood.”
“I am willing to do anything that must be done” to promote peace, he stressed.
