Premier Denys Shmyhal invites Pope to Ukraine

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 27 - Ukrainian Premier Denys Shmyhal invited Pope Francis to Ukraine during an audience in the Vatican on Thursday morning, according to Ukraine's ambassador to the Holy See Andrii Yurash.
    "The Holy Father has been invited again," the diplomat told ANSA.
    "This invitation has already been given several times and (it will) certainly (be) given again," he added.
    On Wednesday during a bilateral conference in Rome on Ukraine's reconstruction Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Skytg24 the country "would welcome the Pope with open arms".
    "Ukraine is with the Pope for peace. Our invitation is still valid, it is always open, he can come at any time," said Kuleba.
    "I don't know why he hasn't come yet: we have talks with the Vatican and the invitation has not been rejected, but we still don't have an official date," he continued, adding that people in Ukraine would really appreciate a visit and be delighted to welcome the Pope in this difficult period. (ANSA).