Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets Pope Leo following inauguration mass in Vatican

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday met with Pope Leo XIV as the latter formally began his papacy following an inauguration mass in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square.

“After the inaugural mass, we met with Pope Leo XIV. We are grateful to His Holiness for the audience,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X.

Zelenskyy said the 267th pontiff is a “symbol of hope for peace” for millions around the world, arguing that the Holy See’s voice and authorities can play an important role in ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“We thank the Vatican for its readiness to become a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia,” Zelenskyy further said.

He went on to reaffirm Kyiv’s readiness for dialogue in any format “for the sake of real results,” thanking Pope Leo for his support for Ukraine and his “clear voice in defense of a just and lasting peace.”

The Ukrainian president is one of numerous world leaders and other dignitaries who took part in the inaugural mass, during which the pontiff underlined the importance of the negotiations to bring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy and Pope Leo previously held a phone call on Monday - the pope's first conversation with a foreign leader since being elected.

Succeeding the late Pope Francis, American Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new pope on May 8, taking the name Leo XIV—the first American-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.