VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV had a historic meeting at the Vatican with His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine. This encounter, one of the first audiences since Leo’s pontiff election, emphasized his plea for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Russia.
During the meeting, Shevchuk extended a heartfelt invitation to Pope Leo to visit Ukraine and handed him a list of individuals currently imprisoned in Russia. The Vatican, under the leadership of Pope Francis, had actively participated in facilitating prisoner exchanges and reuniting Ukrainian children with their families from Russian-occupied territories.
Expressing Solidarity and Hope
Despite no official statement released by the Vatican post the audience, Pope Leo XIV, in his initial Sunday blessing and subsequent interactions with pilgrims from Eastern rite churches, reiterated his call for an end to hostilities and expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
Leo conveyed his deep concern for the Ukrainian populace, stating, “I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible. May all the prisoners be freed, and may the children return to their families.”
In response to suggestions about a potential visit to Kyiv made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their recent phone conversation, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, indicated that it was premature to consider such a trip at this juncture.
Pursuing Diplomatic Neutrality
Embracing the Vatican’s tradition of diplomatic neutrality, Pope Leo XIV pledged dedicated efforts towards facilitating dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. He underscored the Holy See’s commitment to fostering reconciliation and peace-building initiatives, emphasizing the importance of restoring hope and dignity to all affected populations.
The formal installation of Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to take place during a Mass on Sunday, with anticipated attendance by President Zelenskyy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Noteworthy encounters between world leaders, such as President Zelenskyy’s meeting with President Donald Trump at St. Peter’s Basilica during Pope Francis’ funeral last month, underscore the significance of diplomatic engagements in fostering international relations.
