Ukrainian President speaks with newly elected Pope
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Today, May 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for the first time with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Among the issues raised was Russia's illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
According to Zelenskyy, the conversation with the newly elected Pope was warm and substantive. He thanked him for his support for Ukraine and his call for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, as well as the release of prisoners.
Among other things, the President and Leo XIV spoke about the Russian illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. Kyiv, as Zelenskyy noted, is counting on the Vatican's assistance in returning them home.
In particular, Zelenskyy informed the Pope that a full, unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days should begin today. He also confirmed Kyiv's readiness for further negotiations in any format, as it wants to end the war and expects Russia to mirror its behavior.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people. We agreed to stay in contact and plan in-person meeting in the near future," Zelenskyy said.
Robert Francis Prevost becomes new Pope
On May 7, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church began a conclave to elect a new Pope. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but the next evening, white smoke appeared over the Sistine Chapel.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the new Pope, taking the papal name of Leo XIV. He is the first pope in history to be a citizen of the United States of America.
RBC-Ukraine has collected everything known about the new Pope.
