US EditionNew pope breaks with Francis to support Kyiv and ceasefire push
- On Monday, Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a phone conversation to talk about ceasefire proposals and peace initiatives amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- The call followed Pope Francis' death in April and reflected Ukraine's complex relations with his predecessor, who condemned the war but urged peace without explicitly naming Russia.
- During their discussion, Zelenskiy brought up the situation of numerous Ukrainian children who have been forcibly taken to Russia and other territories, and he reiterated Ukraine's commitment to an unconditional ceasefire and openness to continued dialogue.
- Zelenskiy characterized the phone conversation as warm and meaningful, and extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to travel to Ukraine, emphasizing that the Pope’s presence could inspire hope among the faithful and the wider population.
- The dialogue suggests Ukraine relies on the Vatican's assistance to end the war and reunite displaced children, while both leaders agreed to maintain contact for advancing peace efforts.
32 Articles
32 Articles
The Straits Times
CDE NewsPope Leo, in first known call with foreign leader, speaks to Ukraine's Zelenskiy
Pope Leo XIV had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday and spoke about ceasefire proposals, Zelenskiy said, in the first known conversation between the newly-elected pontiff and a foreign leader. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Pope Leon of XIV spoke on the phone with Volodimir Zelenski.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski thanked the new Pope Leon of XIV for his statement in favour of a fair peace in Ukraine during a month's telephone conversation, which he informed the Pontifian Sovereign of the joint proposal of Kiev and its main European partners to Russia for an assembly of 30 days.
Zelensky: "First phone call with Leo XIV, I invited him to Kiev. We talked about the children deported to Russia"
I spoke to Pope Leo XIV. It was our first conversation, but already very warm and really substantial. I thanked His Holiness for his support for Ukraine and all our people. We deeply appreciate his words about the need to achieve a just and lasting peace for our country and the release of prisoners. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported in a post on X that he had spoken for the first time with the Pope and added that he had invited…
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