Congressman Cohen Meets with Pope’s Envoy Seeking to End Humanitarian Crisis Caused by Abduction of Ukrainian Children

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, today joined Helsinki Commission members and other members of Congress in a meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis’ Special Envoy seeking to resolve the humanitarian crisis being caused by the Russian abduction of Ukrainian children. The focus of the meeting today was Cardinal Zuppi’s efforts to have Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia returned to their parents. U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, Joe Donnelly, who was elected to Congress in 2006 and was in Congressman Cohen’s Congressional class, asked Congressman Cohen to organize this meeting, which was also attended by Helsinki Commission staff. Cardinal Zuppi is to meet with President Biden later today.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Cardinal Zuppi emphasized that his is a humanitarian mission – having Ukrainian children repatriated from Russia to their parents in Ukraine. The Cardinal discussed his conversations with both Russia and Ukraine thus far. He was frank in his assessment of Russia’s reception of his efforts and about the difficulties he faces in accomplishing his mission. I wished the Cardinal every success.”

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