Read this from CNN

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Pope Francis talked over the phone on Tuesday about the war, Zelensky told Italian lawmakers on Tuesday.

“Today I spoke with his Holiness Pope Francis, and he said very important words: ‘I understand that you want peace. I understand that you have to defend yourselves, that soldiers defend civilians, they defend their homeland. Everyone is defending it’” Zelensky said in an address to Italian Parliament.

“And I answered: ‘Our people have become the army, when they saw how much evil the enemy brings, how much devastation it brings, and how much bloodshed it (Russia) wants to see.’” the president said.  Zelensky said that 117 children have died so far during the war, calling it “the price of procrastination” of other countries in stopping the war.

Zelensky told the Pope “about the difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops. The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated,” Zelensky added.

These words are to be expected. A leader can say nothing else. But here is another line into peace. We have already seen how South Africa could be involved. Now the President of Ukraine is willing to invite Pope Francis to help towards peace. Every little helps. Peace makers are to be found everywhere. So let’s pray for South Africa, Pope Francis and others of whom we do not know. In the end Russia and Ukraine will have to talk. We are urging the Lord to move through these human agencies before 117 children become 118, 119,120 …