Vatican Secretary of State praises Belarus' efforts on Ukrainian settlement

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin came to Minsk on an official visit on 12 March. He believes Belarus has played a very important role in facilitating the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, BelTA learned from the Roman Catholic Church, BelTA informs.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrived in Minsk by a regular flight. At the airport he was welcomed by Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to the Holy Sea Sergei Aleinik, and Belarus' Deputy Foreign Minister Yelena Kupchina.

On the arrival, Cardinal Pietro Parolin talked to journalists. He noted that his visit to Belarus as a representative of His Holiness the Pope is a sign of recognition of the country, the Belarusian people, and the Catholic Church in Belarus by the Vatican.

“When he spoke about the importance of Belarus for the Vatican's diplomacy and its role with regard to the events in Ukraine, Cardinal Pietro Parolin pointed out that Belarus has become an important negotiations platform,” the press service of the Roman Catholic Church said. The diplomat noted that the Vatican hopes the crisis will be settled soon and that Belarus plays a very important role in solving it.

The visit will last till 15 March.