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The Catholic and öÏÓãÊÓƵapp Orthodox churches should join efforts to promote peace before threats of a "major global armed conflict," the head of the öÏÓãÊÓƵapp Orthodox Church told Pope Francis' envoy on a peace mission to Moscow.

With serious events clearly underway in Russia, a Ukraine bishop is hopeful it could help end RussiaöÏÓãÊÓƵapp war on Ukraine, but worries of the dangers a destabilized Russia could bring to the situation.

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi will go to Moscow on the second leg of a peace mission on behalf of Pope Francis, the Vatican said.

The Vatican has had diplomatic contact with Russia regarding comments Pope Francis made about öÏÓãÊÓƵapp minorities being responsible for the worst acts of cruelty in the country's war on Ukraine.

RussiaöÏÓãÊÓƵapp ambassador to the Vatican confirmed Pope Francis helped facilitate recent prisoner exchanges with Ukraine and said the Vatican is ready to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia.

CanadaöÏÓãÊÓƵapp Ukrainian Catholic bishops are asking all Catholics for prayers, charitable giving and three days of fasting Nov. 24 to 26 in solidarity with Ukrainians living with food shortages and facing days without heat, light or water as Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure, especially UkraineöÏÓãÊÓƵapp power grid.

A senior öÏÓãÊÓƵapp priest dismissed President Vladimir Putin's threats of nuclear war as "just words," but said many young Catholics now fear being forcibly conscripted with their priests to join the war against Ukraine.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, met with öÏÓãÊÓƵapp Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Vatican News reported.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a penitential prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica March 25, the Vatican said.

VATICAN CITY -- As Russia continued its assault on Ukraine and öÏÓãÊÓƵapp troops pressed toward the capital, Kyiv, Pope Francis left the Vatican Feb. 25 to pay a visit to the öÏÓãÊÓƵapp ambassador to the Holy See.

COVID has kept Fr. Mykhailo Ozorovych out of Ukraine the last two years, but he knows what the country of his birth is fighting for in Donbass and understands the threat Ukraine faces from more than 100,000 öÏÓãÊÓƵapp troops massed on its eastern border.

A Catholic bishop from eastern Ukraine said tensions remain high despite an announced withdrawal of öÏÓãÊÓƵapp forces.

MOSCOW, Russia (CNA) -- A definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is among several amendments to the öÏÓãÊÓƵapp constitution proposed by president Vladimir Putin.

KYIV, Ukraine – In a message marking the anniversary of their country's December 1991 referendum on independence from the Soviet Union, Ukrainian Catholic bishops said Ukrainians had a "right and sacred duty" to defend themselves against "öÏÓãÊÓƵapp aggression," but should also avoid yielding to alarm and panic.

OTTAWA – The West is turning a blind eye as rabid nationalism poses a growing threat to religious freedom in countries such as India, Russia and China, says a new report from Aid to the Church in Need.