Pope Leo XIV received Zelensky as the first of world leaders and spoke about the fate of Ukraine.

Pope Leo XIV prayed for Ukraine and called for peace

In his closing speech during the papal inauguration ceremony, Pope Leo XIV mentioned Ukraine. He prayed for our country and called for negotiations for a fair and lasting peace.

'The war has taken the lives of many young people in Ukraine... The impoverished Ukraine is finally awaiting negotiations for a fair and lasting peace,' - shared the Pope.

The pontiff also drew attention to the situation in the Gaza sector, where, according to him, 'children, families, and elderly people are forced to starve.'

The solemn mass marking the beginning of the papacy was attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with the First Lady, the Vice President of the USA, the Prime Minister of Canada, the President of the European Commission, and other world leaders.

Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV

After the ceremonies, the President of Ukraine held a meeting with Pope Leo XIV. Zelensky expressed gratitude to the Pontiff for the audience and emphasized the important role of the Pope in facilitating a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

'We are ready for dialogue in any format to achieve real results. Thank you for supporting Ukraine and for your clear voice in defense of a fair and lasting peace,' - emphasized Zelensky.

It is worth noting that the President of Ukraine also warned Russia against fake negotiations in the future.

The solemn events in the Vatican and Zelensky's meeting with Pope Leo XIV open new opportunities for international cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution. Such initiatives from high-ranking world officials are extremely important for stabilizing the political and social situation. Hope for peace and cooperation is always important, especially in the context of armed conflicts and strained international relations.