In brief
In a meeting after the inaugural Mass, both leaders expressed the urgent need for negotiations and peace in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with his wife Olena Zelenska, attended Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass at St. Peter's Square this past Sunday. After the Mass, Zelensky had a private meeting with the new pope, who recently expressed a desire to help end the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.Pope Leo XIV has offered the Vatican as a venue for peace negotiations, stating, “The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope’s secretary of state, emphasized that the Vatican could provide an "appropriate place" for the talks. During the Mass, Pope Leo spoke about global suffering from wars, mentioning “Martyred Ukraine” and calling for a just peace.Zelensky expressed gratitude for the pope’s “special words” and shared that every nation deserves peace and security. He also thanked the Vatican for being open to serving as a platform for direct negotiations with Russia, highlighting the potential of this meeting in paving the way for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
