Pope Leo XIV is set to hold his first private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday following the inauguration mass marking the beginning of his papacy, the Vatican announced.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the pontiff said, “Martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen.”
Zelenskyy was among the international dignitaries—including politicians, royals, and religious leaders—who attended the mass in St. Peter’s Square. During the event, the Ukrainian president was seen shaking hands with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
In his Regina Coeli prayer at the conclusion of the mass, Pope Leo also highlighted global humanitarian crises. “In Gaza, children, families, and elderly survivors are reduced to hunger,” he said. He also lamented the ongoing violence in Myanmar, stating, “New hostilities have destroyed innocent young lives.”
