Pope Leo XIV met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday morning at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, continuing the Holy See’s sustained efforts to support peace in Ukraine and advocate for the protection of the nation’s most vulnerable.
According to Vatican News, the encounter was described as cordial, with both leaders returning to the urgent realities of the ongoing war. During their conversation, the Pope “reiterated the importance of ongoing dialogue” and again expressed his “urgent hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts will lead to a just and lasting peace,” according to the Holy See Press Office.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict remained at the forefront. Both the Holy Father and President Zelenskyy discussed the plight of prisoners of war and the critical issue of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. Vatican News reported that the two leaders emphasized the need to ensure “the safe return of Ukrainian children to their families,” a concern that President Zelenskyy later called “a very important question” when speaking to journalists.
This meeting comes five months after the President’s previous audience with Pope Leo XIV, which also took place at Castel Gandolfo. During that earlier encounter—held just weeks after Pope Leo’s election—the Pope conveyed his sorrow for the victims of the war and assured Ukraine of his continued prayers. At that time, he also expressed the Vatican’s openness to hosting representatives of both Ukraine and Russia for potential negotiations, according to Vatican News.
Following Monday’s meeting, President Zelenskyy publicly thanked the Pope for his attention to the humanitarian dimensions of the conflict, especially his spiritual and diplomatic support for families separated by war.
As winter deepens and diplomatic initiatives continue, the Holy See’s engagement reflects its longstanding mission: to encourage peace, safeguard the dignity of every person, and accompany those who suffer amid conflict.
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