Pope Leo XIV received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in audience this morning. "The Pope reaffirmed his willingness to welcome the representatives of Russia and Ukraine to the Vatican for negotiations," according to a Vatican statement following the approximately thirty-minute meeting.
The Pontiff greeted Zelensky at Villa Barberini at the entrance to one of the rooms with a handshake. Zelensky, dressed in black camouflage, addressed Prevost with a "Thank you so much" in English. "How are things going?" was Leo's first question.
The Pope spoke with the Ukrainian president "about the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for just and lasting peace." During the meeting, they also "reaffirmed the importance of dialogue as the best way to end hostilities." "The Pope expressed sorrow for the victims and renewed his prayers and closeness to the Ukrainian people, encouraging every effort to free the prisoners and find shared solutions," the statement concludes.
The Ukrainian president will also meet with President Sergio Mattarella and US envoy Keith Kellogg. This will be on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 : a veritable "conference city" will be set up in the next few hours in the heart of the EUR district, at the La Nuvola Congress Center.
The event, taking place on Thursday and Friday, will be attended by the Ukrainian president, nine heads of state, six prime ministers, and 36 ministers. Guests at the event include approximately 4,000 contractors, business leaders from around the world, who will lead the working sessions, mostly focused on July 11th.
(Unioneonline)