Pope Francis renewed his call for the exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine during the Regina Caeli on Ascension Sunday.
He stressed the significance of freedom and peace, reassuring that the Holy See is prepared to “facilitate every effort in this regard,” especially for prisoners who are seriously wounded or sick.
This announcement comes amidst ongoing conflicts where Russia and Ukraine have conducted over 50 prisoner swaps since the war began, releasing thousands of detainees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that approximately 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been freed as a result of these efforts.
The Pope has highlighted the plight of prisoners in war zones, urging adherence to international law and striving for peace.
“May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions,” he said during his Easter “Urbi et Orbi” address.
In a General Audience, he condemned the torture of prisoners: “The torture of prisoners is a horrible thing. It is not human,” he stated, calling for global awareness of human dignity.
In a meeting with Jesuits in Kazakhstan in September 2022, Pope Francis discussed his engagement in prisoner exchange initiatives, revealing proactive steps: “I immediately called the Russian ambassador to see if something could be done,” he recounted, emphasizing the urgency of diplomatic efforts.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has been tasked by Pope Francis to lead missions focused on prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of Ukrainian children from Russia.
Furthermore, the Pope’s recently proclaimed Bull of Indiction of the 2025 Jubilee calls for actions to provide hope and improve conditions for prisoners worldwide.
“I propose that in this Jubilee Year governments undertake initiatives aimed at restoring hope; forms of amnesty or pardon,” the Pope said.
Adding to the Vatican’s efforts, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church called for the release of specific prisoner groups, including military women, healthcare workers, and captured priests.
“Today, more than ever, we not only want to hear the words and the appeal of Pope Francis, but we want his words on the ‘all for all’ exchange to become for us an imperative, a call to concrete actions,” Shevchuk emphasized.
