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Pope Leo XIV Grants First Foreign Leader Audience to President Zelenskyy
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican on May 18, following the Pope’s inaugural mass at St. Peter’s Square. The meeting marked the first audience granted by the newly inaugurated Pontiff to a foreign leader.
According to a statement from the Office of the President of Ukraine, the discussions focused on the war in Ukraine, the potential role of the Holy See in mediation efforts, and humanitarian issues such as the release of prisoners and the return of deported Ukrainian children.
After the inauguration Mass, we had a meeting with Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex. We are grateful to His Holiness for the audience.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 18, 2025
For millions of people around the world, the Pontiff is a symbol of hope for peace. The authority and voice of the Holy See can play an important role in… pic.twitter.com/6pFGJfcrae
President Zelenskyy thanked the Vatican for its willingness to serve as a platform for potential direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “We are ready for dialogue in any format that produces real results,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of international efforts aimed at securing a just and lasting peace.
He noted that for millions around the world, the Pontiff remains a symbol of hope and that the moral authority of the Holy See could contribute meaningfully to ending the war.
The Ukrainian delegation included Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Deputy Head Ihor Zhovkva, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The President briefed the Pope on ongoing diplomatic developments, including talks in Istanbul, and reiterated Ukraine’s openness to meaningful negotiations.
Special attention was given to humanitarian issues, including efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia and secure the release of prisoners. Pope Leo XIV assured the Ukrainian side of the Vatican’s continued support and commitment to assisting in these matters.
Olena Zelenska expressed gratitude for the medical assistance provided to Ukrainian children at the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital and called for further humanitarian cooperation.
Earlier, Pope Leo XIV condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “a true invasion, imperialist in nature” in his first public remarks on the war. In an interview with Peruvian media, the newly elected American-born pontiff criticized global leaders for avoiding clear acknowledgment of the atrocities and described the war as both a war and a humanitarian crisis.
