Ukraine would like Pope Francis to join the rescue of people in the east of our country by helping to unblock the humanitarian corridor in Mariupol.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a press conference.
"I would like him to come here. To support our people in the east of the country, I would like him to try to unblock the humanitarian corridors to Mariupol, - said the President. - It was the request that we addressed him with. There are certain signals. It is too early to say, but we are waiting for him because he has exactly that mission, the mission assigned by God; many people trust him."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the Pope supports Ukraine and condemns russian aggression. The Head of State also reminded that he had asked the Pontiff to help with the release of Vitaliy Markiv, a National Guard serviceman from an Italian prison.
This week, when asked why he is not going to Ukraine, where people are waiting for him, Francis said he could not do what "threatens more important goals, such as ending the war, armistice or, at least, humanitarian corridor."
Earlier, Serhiy Volyna, the 36th Separate Marine Brigade commander, which now defends besieged Mariupol with the "Azov", wrote a letter to Pope Francis urging him to help evacuate the city's residents and "save them from Satan."