Pope Leo XIV is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a private meeting on Sunday, marking their first official encounter since the pope’s recent inauguration.
The meeting will take place following a mass at the Vatican that opened the new papal era.
Zelenskyy joined a global audience of political leaders, royals, and religious figures who gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness Pope Leo’s inaugural service. During the ceremony, the Ukrainian president greeted US Vice President JD Vance, symbolizing the strong international presence at the event.
Before the meeting, the pope called attention to the ongoing suffering caused by the war in Ukraine. He expressed hope that talks would soon begin to bring an end to the violence and establish peace that can endure.
This call for peace reflects the Vatican’s consistent focus on humanitarian concerns. Pope Leo, in his first Regina Coeli prayer, also spoke about other regions in crisis. He mentioned the dire situation in Gaza, where families are facing hunger, and the renewed conflict in Myanmar that has claimed the lives of many young people.
As Pope Leo begins his leadership of the Catholic Church, his early attention to Ukraine and other global conflicts shows a commitment to diplomacy, compassion, and the pursuit of peace in some of the world’s most troubled regions. The meeting with Zelenskyy is expected to center on how to bring an end to the conflict that has taken thousands of lives since Russia’s invasion in 2022.