Pope Francis told a child from Ukraine, on Saturday, that he wants to go to the war-torn nation and would discuss the possibilities of travelling there, with the country’s officials. 

The pope was meeting children at the Vatican as part of the teaching initiative. 

The Holy See press office’s release indicates the boy’s name was Sachar, and the Ukrainian child said “I don’t have a question but rather a request: can you come to Ukraine to save all the children who are suffering there now?”. 

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To this, Pope Francis replied, “I’m glad you are here. I think a lot about children in Ukraine, and that’s why I have sent some Cardinals to help there and be close to all the people, to the children. I would like to go to Ukraine; I just have to wait for the moment to do it, you know, because it’s not easy to make a decision that can do more harm to the whole world than good”, and added, “I have to look for the right time to do it. This next week I will be receiving representatives of the government of Ukraine, who will come to speak, also to talk about my possible visit there. Let’s see what happens”. 

The pope has expressed regret over the current conflict and situation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had already extended an invitation to the Pope, to come and see what Russian President Vladimir Putin’s onslaught had wreaked on the nation. At the time, Francis had turned down the offer but looks more willing to visit in person now. 

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Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, and recently Ukraine marked its 100th day of conflict. During that time, Russia bombarded and captured the city of Mariupol and changed tactics to attack from the east through the Donbas region.