# Cardinal Zuppi in Russia: Family Reunification Push

> Cardinal Zuppi urges faster family reunification checks in Russia after third Moscow mission.
- Title: Cardinal Zuppi in Russia: Family Reunification Push | Shortify
- Summary: Cardinal Zuppi urges faster family reunification checks in Russia after third Moscow mission. Cardinal Zuppi called for strengthening and speeding up checks…
- Keywords: cardinal matteo zuppi, russia, ukraine, family reunification, pope leo xiv, military prisoners, missing persons, children repatriation, religion, world, Cardinal, Zuppi
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-10/zuppi-in-russia-strengthen-and-speed-up-checks-to-reunite.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-10-02T08:12:47.114+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cardinal matteo zuppi, russia, ukraine, family reunification, pope leo xiv, military prisoners, missing persons, children repatriation, religion, world
## Cardinal Zuppi returns from Moscow
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi completed his third mission to Russia after meetings with Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing persons searches.
## Mission timeline
Cardinal Zuppi’s third Moscow mission ended Wednesday, 30 September, following visits in June 2023 and October 2024.
## Ukraine visits
Cardinal Zuppi visited Ukrainian prisoner camps in Lviv last July, where he met Russian prisoners of war.
## Ukrainian prisoners meeting
Cardinal Zuppi spoke with Ukrainian prisoners of war, conveyed Pope Leo XIV’s closeness, and expressed hope for their return home.
## Russia talks
Cardinal Zuppi met Russian officials to discuss military and civilian prisoners, missing persons, family reunification, and children repatriation.
## Key call for action
Cardinal Zuppi said: 'We need to strengthen and speed up the checks needed to ensure that families can be reunited.'

> We need to strengthen and speed up the checks needed to ensure that families can be reunited.
## Key takeaway

Cardinal Zuppi called for strengthening and speeding up checks to reunite Ukrainian families amid Russia-Ukraine tensions.