VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV met Thursday on the Vatican with the pinnacle of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, in considered one of his first audiences as pontiff that reaffirmed his enchantment for a peaceable, negotiated finish to Russia’s battle.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk stated he invited Leo to go to Ukraine and offered the pope with an inventory of prisoners held by Russia. The Vatican beneath Pope Francis had labored for prisoner exchanges, in addition to for the return of Ukrainian kids taken to reside in Russian-occupied territories.
The Vatican didn’t launch any assertion after the viewers, one of many first personal audiences held by Leo since his election Might 8.
In his first Sunday midday blessing as pope, and once more throughout an viewers with pilgrims from jap ceremony church buildings this week, Leo has appealed for an finish to the battle and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian folks.
“I carry in my coronary heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian folks. Let every thing attainable be achieved to attain real, simply and lasting peace as quickly as attainable. Might all of the prisoners be freed, and will the youngsters return to their households,” he stated Sunday.
The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, stated it was “untimely” to think about a attainable papal go to to Kyiv, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had additionally instructed throughout a primary telephone name with Leo on Monday.
The Vatican has a practice of diplomatic neutrality. Leo has vowed “each effort” to attempt to carry Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating desk. “The Holy See is all the time prepared to assist carry enemies collectively, head to head, to speak to at least one one other, in order that peoples in all places might as soon as extra discover hope and recuperate the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,” he stated on Wednesday.
Leo is to be formally put in at a Mass on Sunday; Zelenskyy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance are anticipated to attend.
Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump in St. Peter’s Basilica on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral final month.
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