Pope Leo XIV has taken time out from his summer vacation in Castel Gandolfo to receive the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: CNA.
It was the second time the two have met after exchanging greetings at the Vatican on May 18 in the context of the Mass inaugurating Pope Leo’s pontificate.
According to an official statement from the Holy See, the two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and “the urgency of pursuing just and lasting paths of peace”.
During the meeting, held behind closed doors, the importance of dialogue was reiterated “as the best avenue for ending hostilities”.
The Pope expressed his profound sorrow for the victims of the Russia-Ukraine war and renewed his spiritual closeness to the Ukrainian people, encouraging all efforts aimed at the release of prisoners and the search for shared solutions.
Leo XIV also reaffirmed the Holy See’s willingness to receive representatives of Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican with a view to possible peace negotiations. The audience lasted approximately 30 minutes.
Mr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude on X for the meeting and for “a very substantive conversation” with the Holy Father. “We value all the support and every prayer for peace in Ukraine,” he added.
Regarding the proposal for meetings between leaders from both sides of the conflict to be held at the Vatican, he confirmed that “it remains open and entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace”.
However, he lamented that, currently, “only Moscow continues to reject this proposal, as it has turned down all other peace initiatives.
“We will continue to strengthen global solidarity so that diplomacy can still succeed.”
He also noted that he especially thanked Pope Leo for his support for Ukrainian children, “particularly those returned from Russian captivity”.
“Ukrainian children now have the opportunity for rehabilitation and rest in Italy, and such hospitality and sincerity are extremely important. Today, we also discussed the Vatican’s continued efforts to help return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia,” he noted.
Mr Zelenskyy’s visit to Rome is part of the Fourth International Meeting on the Reconstruction of Ukraine to be held in the Italian capital July 10–11.
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Pope Leo XIV receives Ukrainian president Zelenskyy at Castel Gandolfo (By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú, ACI Prensa/CNA)
