Overview

• The Vatican has confirmed plans for a peace mission to end fighting in Ukraine, surprising officials who claimed to know nothing about it.
• Pope Francis met with a Russian Orthodox leader to discuss the secret mission aimed at returning Ukrainian children taken to Russia.
• Ukraine's prime minister asked the pope for help bringing the children home.
• The Vatican has tried engaging both sides, working on prisoner releases and offering to help return children Russia took.
• Some supporters worry Francis is letting himself be used by leaders like Putin or the Russian Orthodox Church, though the pope remains dedicated to putting people first in geopolitical conflicts.