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Pope Leo XIV Receives List of Ukrainian POWs in Russian Captivity During Vatican Meeting
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV was handed lists of Ukrainian soldiers currently held in Russian captivity, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported, on May 15.
The meeting with the Pope was organized with the support of the Coordination Headquarters and the Embassy of Ukraine to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
During an audience with the communities of the Eastern Catholic Churches, a representative of the families of captured Ukrainian defenders personally presented the lists to the pontiff.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was the most numerous among the event’s participants. His Beatitude extended his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election. In response, the pontiff emphasized the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace.
"My heart is with the suffering and beloved people of Ukraine. Let us do everything possible to achieve true peace as soon as possible, a just and lasting one! And let all prisoners be freed, and children be returned to their families!" stated Pope Leo XIV.
Earlier, In his first public remarks regarding Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, Pope Leo XIV had issued a clear and unequivocal condemnation of Moscow’s actions. Speaking with Peruvian news outlet Semanario Expresión, the American-born pontiff characterized the war as "a genuine invasion, imperialist in nature."
