Matteo Zuppi
Italian cardinal and Archbishop of Bologna, Pope Francis's 2023 peace envoy for Ukraine.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's 2023 shuttle between Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and Beijing set The Vatican's humanitarian line on Ukraine, which Pope Leo XIV followed in his call with Vladimir Putin on 16 October 2026 about civilians in occupied Oleshky.
Last refreshed: 18 October 2026
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Timeline for Matteo Zuppi
Mentioned in: Pope Leo XIV raises Oleshky with Putin
Russia-Ukraine War 2026Background
Born in Rome on 11 October 1955, Zuppi became Archbishop of Bologna in 2015 and a cardinal on 5 October 2019. Since May 2022 he has also been president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
Pope Francis made him his peace envoy for Ukraine in 2023. He visited Kyiv on 5-6 June, Moscow on 28-30 June, Washington on 17-19 July and Beijing on 13-15 September. His work centred on Ukrainian children taken to Russia and stopped short of brokering any wider talks.
He went back to Moscow in October 2024 to work on children and prisoner exchanges. His mission remains the reference point for papal contact with the Kremlin over the war, including Pope Leo XIV's October 2026 call about Oleshky, a town on the Russian-held left bank of the Dnipro.
Who is Cardinal Matteo Zuppi?
Where did Cardinal Zuppi's Ukraine peace mission go?
What was Cardinal Zuppi's mission about?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 18 October 2026. Editorial standards.