The Pope plans to visit Moscow and Kyiv after he visits Canada

Pope Francis expressed hope that after visiting Canada this month, he could visit Moscow and Kyiv as soon as possible

He told about this in an interview with Reuters, Rubryka reports.

The publication asked the Pontiff about the situation in Ukraine.

In response, Francis noted that there were contacts between Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov regarding a possible trip to Moscow.

We will remind you that the Pope condemned the "barbaric attack" on the shopping center in Kremenchuk.

The agency emphasizes that no Pope has ever visited Moscow and that Francis has repeatedly condemned russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Last Thursday, he indirectly accused it of waging a "cruel and senseless war of aggression."

We should note that the Vatican asked russia about the trip several months ago. Then Moscow replied to the Pope about the inappropriateness of the moment.

Now Francis hinted that the situation may have changed now.

"I would like to go (to Ukraine), and I wanted to go to Moscow first. We exchanged messages about this because I thought that if the Russian president gave me a small window to serve the cause of peace… And now it is possible after I come back from Canada, it is possible that I manage to go to Ukraine," he answered.

"The first thing is to go to russia to try to help in some way, but I would like to go to both capitals," added the Pope.

Pope Francis is visiting Canada from July 24 to 30.

Earlier, Pope Francis stated that he doesn't support the president of the aggressor country, putin, but refused to talk about "good and evil" in the context of russia's war against Ukraine.

He also suggested that the war could be "provoked" or could not be prevented, hinting at NATO's responsibility.

Read Rubryka's daily timeline of war: current news on Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression.