Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of Ukraine’s Eastern-rite Catholic Church, and one of the foremost Catholic figures in Ukraine, has publically announced that he has invited Pope Francis to visit the country.

Shevchuk stated that he believes it will be a huge gesture, not only for Ukrainian and Russian relations, by potentially bringing peace at a time of growing tension, but for all of humanity.

In a video conference held in Kyiv recently, Shevchuk told reporters that now would be the best time for Pope Francis to come, even during the situation currently unfolding in the region.

Shevchuk stated further that, though the Pope had been invited several times in the past, the urgency was now as apparent as ever, and so he has much hope that this latest invitation will be answered.

On January 26th, Pope Francis lead an international day of prayer for peace in Ukraine. He also called for dialogue to prevail over partisan interests.

The religious population of Ukraine is mainly Orthodox, with only around 10 percent of the population belonging to the Greek Eastern-rite, aka Byzantine-rite, Catholic Church. Pope Francis is nonetheless still “the most important moral authority in the world today” amongst Catholics, Orthodox, and even some non-believers, says Shevchuk. He firmly believes that a papal visit to Ukraine will be one that will also bring an outstanding message of peace.

Should the Pope visit though, there is a risk that it will likely not be looked upon well by Russia and its Orthodox Church, something Pope Francis will need to consider before visiting. Plans are reported to be already underway to arrange a second meeting with Patriarch Kirill, Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev, of the Russian Orthodox Church, who last met with the Pope in 2016. This meeting, which took place in Cuba, marked the first meeting of a Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and a Russian patriarch since the great schism of Christianity into its Eastern and Western branches in 1054. The Pope will therefore likely wish to tread lightly, and diplomatically, in order to not complicate matters and relations in such a crucial and sensitive moment of time.

Nevertheless, there is much eagerness and excitement for the Pope to visit Ukraine, and much belief, like Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, and many others, that it will bring great benefit in relieving tensions, as well as simply bringing much-needed hope and comfort to the everyday people of Ukraine.

Though Putin continues to maintain that Russia has no intention of invading Ukraine, all the signs speaking differently, and tensions are swiftly escalating with Russian troops massing at the border, and Ukrainian civilians and military mobilising in defence. It’s a gamble like the tragamonedas Chile players love as to what happens next.

With a flurry of negotiations and political activity, some failing and some ongoing, hoping to prevent a looming conflict, some experts have predicted a possible stand-off before any real conflict ensues. If so, this will hopefully create more time for negotiations, and for someone like the Pope Francis to bring some light, hope, and peace back to the world.