Pope Leo XIV has met Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking the second in-person encounter between the two leaders since Leo was elected as head of the global Catholic Church in May.
Zelenskyy called on Leo at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban hills south of Rome. The Ukrainian President is in Rome to attend the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, which is taking place Thursday and Friday.
A statement from the Vatican said that the pair “discussed the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a just and lasting peace.”
“During the cordial conversation, the importance of dialogue as the preferred means of ending hostilities was reaffirmed.”
The Vatican
It disclosed that the Pontiff expressed his sorrow for the victims and renewed his prayers and closeness to the Ukrainian people, encouraging every effort aimed at the release of prisoners and the search for shared solutions.
He also encouraged efforts aimed at the release of prisoners and the recovery of children who have been separated from their families.
The Vatican statement added that Pope Leo reiterated the willingness to welcome representatives of Russia and Ukraine to the Vatican for negotiations.
Russia has previously rejected this offer, with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov suggesting that it would not be appropriate for two Orthodox Christian countries to hold talks there.
Proposal For Negotiations At The Vatican “Open And Possible”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after meeting with Pope Leo XIV, said that the proposal for leaders to meet in Vatican to end Russia’s war in Ukraine remains open and possible.
In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the meeting and “very thorough conversation” with Pope Leo XIV. “We appreciate all the support and every prayer for peace in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy stated.
“The proposal for meetings at the level of leaders in Vatican to stop russian aggression and achieve stable, lasting and genuine peace remains open and absolutely possible. Currently, only Moscow rejects this proposal, as well as all other peace proposals.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Also, Zelenskyy noted that it is necessary to continue to increase global solidarity so that diplomacy can work.
He thanked the Pope especially for his support for Ukrainian children, in particular those returned from russian captivity, and disclosed that they discussed further Vatican efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
He asked for continued help and prayers “to get back our children stolen by Russia during this war.”
Pope Francis had named an envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to try to facilitate the return of children and find “paths to peace” between the two sides.
After an initial burst of shuttle diplomacy and visits to Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and Beijing, Zuppi’s efforts appear to have slowed, at least in the public sphere.
The Russian government has faced international condemnation over unlawful deportations of Ukrainian families, including children, to Russia following Putin’s order for Russian troops to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
UN-backed experts have estimated that about 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported or transferred from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia, though it was difficult to determine exact numbers.
The Vatican has not disclosed details about its efforts on helping the return of the Ukrainian children or how many children have been returned.
Zelenskyy invited the Pope to visit Ukraine.
Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne reported that, following the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked the Pope for the “support, hospitality and sincerity.”
Zelenskyy also emphasized the Vatican’s role in facilitating dialogue with the Russian side.
Later today, Zelenskyy will meet with Italian President, Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, as well as US Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
READ ALSO: Ato Forson Declares War on Gold Smuggling at GoldBod Task Force Inauguration
