The Vatican Discussed the Situation in Belarus With the Participation of Tadevush Kandrusevich

The head of the Catholic Church also discussed his return to his homeland.

On October 19, Archbishop Tadevush Kandrusevich visited the Vatican at the invitation of the State Secretariat.

Kandrusevich met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations of the Holy See with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

The meeting discussed the situation in Belarus and plans to return Kandrusevich to Belarus, Vatican News reports.

The Holy See is concerned about the prohibition of Kandrusevich to return to Belarus, is making every effort to improve the situation as soon as possible, and hopes that the problem will be resolved soon, the message says.

The Belarusian authorities did not allow the Catholic Church's head in Belarus to enter the country on August 31. Later, the State Border Committee named the cancellation of his passport as a reason for this. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that a check was carried out in relation to Kandrusevich about his Belarusian citizenship.

In September, Archbishop Paul Galagher, Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, visited Belarus. He tried to reach an understanding with the Belarusian authorities about Kandrusevich's entry but to no avail. Galagher believes that in the end, the archbishop will be allowed to return to Belarus, but unacceptable conditions may be imposed.