Pope again appeals for return of Ukrainian children removed to Russia

RELIGION NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Pope Francis has re-iterated the Vatican’s efforts to facilitate the return to Ukraine of children deported to Russia during the war.

He was speaking to journalists on the flight back from Hungary following a three-day visit in which he spoke of the need to end the war in Ukraine and for Europe to welcome migrants.

He said the children’s return was a matter of justice and humanity, and everything humanly possible must be done to secure their return.

Around 50,000 people attended an open-air mass in Budapest, including Hungary’s right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orban.