Zelenskyy meets with potential successors to Pope Francis during Italy visit
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
During his visit to Italy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with potential successors to Pope Francis. He expressed his condolences for the Pope's death and expressed gratitude to the Vatican for its ongoing support of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Zelenskyy and Parolin focused particularly on the path to a just and lasting peace. The President provided an update on joint diplomatic efforts with the US, Europe, and other countries aimed at establishing a complete, unconditional ceasefire as the first step.
The Ukrainian president also thanked the Secretary of State for his stance on Ukraine's right to self-defense and the impossibility of imposing peace terms on a country that has been attacked.
"Ukraine counts on the Holy See to continue playing an important role in uniting international efforts to achieve peace, facilitate the return of Ukrainian children illegally displaced and deported by Russia, and secure the release of prisoners," the statement from the Office of the President reads.
Zelenskyy also discussed the return of Ukrainian children with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. Zelenskyy particularly expressed gratitude for the help from the Vatican, Pope Francis, and Cardinal Zuppi in returning Ukrainian children unlawfully deported and displaced by Russia and in freeing prisoners.
"The most important thing is to bring more lives home, to their loved ones, to their families. That is why you have already helped us with children, and we are turning to you today. Unfortunately, there is still a reason for this. This means that there are still very many children who are being held against their will in the territory of Russia. We want to bring them home, and that is why we are once again turning to the Vatican for such help," Zelenskyy noted.
Photo: Working visit of the Ukrainian president to Italy and the Vatican
Photo: Working visit of the Ukrainian president to Italy and the Vatican
Photo: Working visit of the Ukrainian president to Italy and the Vatican
Photo: Working visit of the Ukrainian president to Italy and the Vatican
The election of the new pontiff
The election of the new pontiff will take place soon. One of the potential candidates is Ukrainian Mykola Bychok, the youngest cardinal in the Vatican, who currently heads the UGCC diocese in Melbourne.
Interestingly, betting agencies have already started accepting wagers on candidates. For example, on the Polymarket platform, the frontrunner is Italian Cardinal and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, with 27%. Luis Antonio Tagle and Matteo Zuppi are among the top three.
