Rubio Says Vatican Could Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled support for the Vatican as a possible venue for Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations. Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See have reiterated their readiness to mediate and bring both parties face-to-face. The Vatican’s history of diplomatic neutrality and success in past global crises bolsters its potential role.
Vatican as Peace Venue: Quick Looks
- Marco Rubio supports Vatican as potential venue for Ukraine-Russia talks.
- Pope Leo XIV vows to make “every effort” for peace.
- The Vatican has a longstanding offer to facilitate negotiations.
- Vatican’s Cardinal Zuppi is leading humanitarian coordination.
- Talks in Istanbul failed to yield progress this week.
- Holy See facilitated U.S.-Cuba normalization in 2014.
- Pope Francis previously led humanitarian prisoner swaps and child returns.
- Vatican diplomats emphasize neutrality and discretion.
- Pope Leo called the Ukraine war an “imperialist invasion.”
- The Vatican played a crucial role in the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Rubio Says Vatican Could Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
Deep Look
Rubio: Vatican Could Be Venue for Russia-Ukraine Talks as Pope Renews Peace Push
ROME — The Vatican may soon play host to high-stakes diplomacy aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled Saturday that the Holy See could serve as a neutral venue for Russia and Ukraine to engage in direct peace talks, following Pope Leo XIV’s renewed offer to facilitate a resolution.
Rubio’s comments came during a visit to Rome, where he met with top Vatican officials, including Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who has led Vatican efforts to mediate humanitarian issues in the Ukraine conflict. Speaking to reporters before his meetings, Rubio emphasized that while the Vatican may not act as a formal broker, it remains one of the few places both sides might agree to meet.
A Diplomatic Bridge Between East and West
“I wouldn’t call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going,” Rubio told reporters. He praised the Vatican for its ongoing willingness to serve a “constructive and positive role.”
The U.S. State Department confirmed Rubio’s appreciation for the Vatican’s humanitarian efforts, specifically referencing prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia.
“Secretary Rubio emphasized the importance of continued collaboration under the new leadership of Pope Leo XIV,” said spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Pope Leo XIV Takes Up Francis’ Peace Mandate
Pope Leo XIV, elected on May 8 as the first American pontiff in Catholic history, has wasted no time continuing his predecessor Pope Francis’s call for peace. In his first public Sunday blessing, Leo appealed for “an authentic, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
Addressing Eastern-rite Catholics, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Leo said, “The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face… so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace.”
As a bishop in Peru, Leo had previously described Russia’s invasion as “imperialist,” and has now pledged to personally “make every effort” to help broker peace.
Vatican Open to Hosting Direct Talks
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, reaffirmed that the Holy See is open to hosting talks between Ukraine and Russia. Referring to recent failed negotiations in Istanbul, Parolin called the breakdown “tragic” and emphasized the need for fresh dialogue.
“We had hoped it could start a process, slow but positive, toward a peaceful solution,” Parolin said. “But instead we’re back to the beginning.”
Pressed on specifics, Parolin said the Vatican’s offer is “an offer of a place,” underscoring the role of the Vatican as a discreet, neutral venue.
A Legacy of Peacemaking
The Vatican’s involvement in global peace efforts is not new. One of its most significant diplomatic achievements came in 2014, when Pope Francis helped facilitate the restoration of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba.
In 2019, the Vatican hosted South Sudan’s rival leaders for reconciliation talks, a meeting remembered for Pope Francis’s powerful gesture of kissing their feet in a plea for peace.
Perhaps most famously, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Pope John XXIII made multiple appeals — public and private — for peace, including personal letters to President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev. Many historians credit those interventions with helping to prevent a nuclear war.
A Path Forward?
While no formal Russia-Ukraine talks are currently scheduled, Vatican officials remain optimistic that the doors to diplomacy are still open. Cardinal Zuppi’s ongoing humanitarian work and the credibility of the Vatican’s diplomatic neutrality provide a foundation for potential dialogue.
As war fatigue grows and peace efforts continue to stall, Pope Leo XIV’s bold commitment to global reconciliation may find its first major test in Ukraine. Whether both sides will accept the Vatican’s invitation remains to be seen.
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