President Volodymr Zelensky of Ukraine visited the Vatican on Saturday for a private meeting with Pope Francis. The Ukrainian president spent 40 minutes with the pope. Holding his hand to his heart, and speaking in French, Mr. Zelensky told the pope it was a “great honor” to meet him.
The pope has repeatedly expressed his desire to visit the war torn Ukraine but only with the proviso that he can also visit Russia. Dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the pope’s many attempts, has proved impossible.
“This meeting could prove instrumental indeed, if nothing else, to add to the pressure that Russia might feel to come to the table of negotiations to end this war.”
“Francis has made very clear that he’s open to conversing with both Zelensky and Putin,” Gerry says. “In fact, Francis didn’t have to send anybody to talk with Zelensky because there is a highway of communication all the time going on; whereas on the highway to Moscow, there is very little traffic.”
On “Inside the Vatican” this week, Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Gerard O’Connell decode what this latest meeting between the pope and the Ukrainian president might mean for the Vatican’s mediation efforts to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, and how it might further Pope Francis’ secret mission for achieving peace.
“This meeting could prove instrumental indeed,” says Ricardo, “if nothing else, to add to the pressure that Russia might feel to come to the table of negotiations to end this war.”
[Listen and subscribe to “Inside the Vatican” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.]
Links from the show
Pope Francis meets with Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelensky
- Pope Francis meets with President Zelensky in the Vatican for first time since the war in Ukraine began
- Reports: Zelensky could visit Pope Francis in first papal meeting since beginning of war
- Pope Francis’ secret Ukraine-Russia peace mission, explained
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