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Ukraine’s president was among the dignitaries and world leaders in St. Peter’s Square. After the meeting, he thanked the Vatican for its willingness to serve as a venue for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
May 18, 2025Updated 10:39 a.m. ET
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine attended Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass on Sunday and met later with the new pontiff in private, days after Leo expressed a personal desire to help end the war with Russia.
The meeting took place after the newly elected pope offered on Friday to host talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican and said he would make every effort so that peace could prevail.
“The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another,” Leo added. The pope’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the offer was “the availability of a space” and called the Vatican an “appropriate place” for peace talks.
In the service at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, Leo spoke forcefully about people suffering because of wars around the world.
“Martyred Ukraine awaits negotiations for a just and lasting peace,” Leo said at the end of the service, echoing language used by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
Mr. Zelensky thanked the pope for his “special words,” saying in a social media post that “every nation deserves to live in peace and security.” After meeting with Leo, he also thanked the Vatican ”for its willingness to serve as a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.”
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