Pope Leo XIV Meets with Ukraine's President Zelensky Discusses Return of Deported Children and Peace Efforts - at Castel Gandolfo


Pope Leo XIV and President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Tuesday, July 9th, in the afternoon. Pope Leo XIV received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a private audience at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo. The meeting focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the pressing need to pursue peace through dialogue.

According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the conversation centred on efforts to end hostilities and find a just and lasting solution to the war in Ukraine. The Pope expressed his sorrow for the victims of the war and assured the Ukrainian people of his prayers and continued closeness.

The Holy Father also encouraged efforts aimed at the release of prisoners and the recovery of children who have been separated from their families. He reiterated the Vatican’s willingness to welcome representatives of both Ukraine and Russia to the Vatican for potential negotiations.

Following the meeting, President Zelensky briefly addressed journalists in English. “I’m very happy for His Holiness - for this meeting, for hosting us,” he said. He thanked the Pope and the Vatican for their support, especially regarding the issue of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war. “This is a very important question. We spoke about it,” he said, stressing the need to return the children to their relatives in Ukraine.

President Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to achieving peace. “Of course we want peace, we want the war to be finished,” he said. “We very much count on the Vatican and His Holiness to help provide a place for a high-level meeting of leaders to end this war.”
Source: Vatican News  https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/07/09/0488/00893.html#en

ZELENSKY wrote on X:
I'm grateful for the meeting and a very substantive conversation with
@Pontifex. We value all the support and every prayer for peace in Ukraine. The proposal to hold meetings at the level of leaders at the Vatican remains open and entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace.
 At present, only Moscow continues to reject this proposal, as it has turned down all other peace initiatives. We will continue to strengthen global solidarity so that diplomacy can still succeed.
 I especially thanked the Pope for his support of Ukrainian children, particularly those returned from Russian captivity. Ukrainian children now have the opportunity for rehabilitation and rest in Italy, and such hospitality and sincerity are extremely important. Today, we also discussed the Vatican’s continued efforts to help return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
 I spoke to His Holiness about the deep respect that Ukrainian society holds for Andrey Sheptytsky — his actions, including the rescue of Jews during the Second World War and his defense of the Christian faith. We hope that Metropolitan Sheptytsky’s contribution and merits will receive the recognition they deserve. I invited the Pope to visit Ukraine.


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