Vatican: Pope Francis May Visit Kyiv in August

Pope Francis may head to Kyiv next August to offer support and call for peace in the wake of the Russian invasion, the Vatican announced.

Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher told Italian broadcaster Rai1 late Friday that the 85-year-old pontiff would discuss a visit to the Ukrainian capital with his staff after returning from Canada.

Asked if a visit to Ukraine could be on the cards as early as next month, Gallagher said: "It's possible, I wouldn't rule it out". However, the archbishop pointed out that everything would depend on the Pope's health.

Francis, who has knee problems and has frequently been seen using a wheelchair in recent weeks, was forced to cancel a trip to Africa planned for early July but is still hoping his visit to Canada later this month can go ahead.

The Pope has been calling for peace in Ukraine for months and has been invited to Kyiv by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the city's mayor, the former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko.

"The Pope is convinced that if he could make a visit, it would have a positive effect," Gallagher mentioned, adding that Francis was also willing to travel to Moscow as well.