Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have met for the third time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, focusing their discussion on the repatriation of Ukrainian nationals held in Russian captivity. Source: NCR Online.
“The issue of bringing our people home from captivity was the main focus of my meeting with Pope Francis,” Mr Zelenskyy posted on X after the meeting on Friday at the Vatican. “We are counting on the Holy See’s assistance in helping to bring back Ukrainians who have been taken captive by Russia.”
In Rome as part of a 36-hour tour of Europe, which included stops in the UK, France and Germany, Mr Zelenskyy visited the Vatican the morning after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
His meeting with the Pope in the library of the Apostolic Palace lasted 35 minutes and was followed by discussions with officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State.
According to a Vatican statement issued after the meetings, the talks covered “the state of the war and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as well as the ways in which it could be brought to an end, leading to just and stable peace in the country”.
“In addition, some matters relating to the religious life of the country were examined,” the statement continued.
Without making specific mention of Ukraine, a post from Francis’ account on X following the meeting stated that “all nations have the right to exist in peace and security. Their territories must not be attacked, and their sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed through peace and dialogue”.
Mr Zelenskyy presented the Pope with a painting highlighting the plight of Ukrainian children affected by the war.
The oil painting, titled The Bucha Massacre. Marichka’s Story, depicts a young girl found amid the devastation in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.
In return, the Pope gave Mr Zelenskyy a bronze sculpture depicting a flower budding between bricks and inscribed with the words, “Peace is a fragile flower,” as well as a book on Ukrainian Catholics persecuted during the Soviet era.
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Pope and Zelenskyy discuss repatriation of Ukrainian captives (By Justin McLellan, CNS via NCR Online)
