VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican on Friday morning, marking their second in-person meeting in four months. The two leaders previously met during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in southern Italy this summer, and this time they engaged in private talks at the Vatican’s apostolic palace.
Zelensky is currently on a European tour to discuss his proposed “victory plan” with leaders from Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and the head of NATO. Both Western officials and Zelensky have indicated that the war with Russia is at a critical juncture, with Ukraine seeking additional support to shift the battlefield balance in its favor for future peace negotiations.
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In March, the pope drew criticism from Ukrainian officials when he suggested that Ukraine should have the courage to raise the “white flag” and negotiate an end to the conflict with Russia. Zelensky dismissed the pope’s comments as mere “virtual mediation” from afar.
Moreover, Pope Francis has voiced concerns regarding Ukrainian lawmakers’ plans to ban the activities of a Russia-linked branch of the Orthodox Church, which Ukrainians have accused of spreading pro-Russian propaganda and harboring spies.
On Thursday, the pope also held a private meeting with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who has been in Rome for a Vatican summit of global bishops. Shevchuk expressed a desire to inform the pope about the ongoing challenges of the war and the difficulties expected this winter.
