Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican met Monday with Pope Francis for a protocol visit, as signs emerged that the Vatican’s Ukraine peace envoy could soon be undertaking a second mission to Moscow.
The Vatican said Ambassador Ivan Soltanovsky was presenting his credentials to Francis, signaling the official start of his term.
His motorcade was seen leaving the Russian embassy Monday morning, bound for the Vatican, and returning about two hours later.
Soltanovsky replaced Ambassador Alexander Avdeev, whom Francis met with on Feb. 25, 2022 in a remarkable in-person papal visit to the embassy the day after Moscow’s forces invaded Ukraine.
Pope meets with new Russian ambassador as second Moscow mission
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