Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Pope Francis in Vatican City

May 15, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis in Vatican City on Saturday, presumably to discuss the Vatican's efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy and the Pope conducted a meeting for 40 minutes and, according to a statement from the Vatican, they covered the "humanitarian and political situation provoked by the war going on."

The statement continued, "The pope assured his constant prayer, paid witness to by his many public appeals and by his continued invoking of the Lord for peace, since February of last year."

Zelenskyy's visit comes after Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, visited with Pope Francis last month. Shmyhal's visit was intended to get the Vatican's help in pressuring Russia to return Ukrainian children taken during the war.

Zelenskyy also met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni who promised Italy would support Ukraine with both military and financial support until the conflict was resolved.

Standing with Zelenskyy, Meloni delivered a statement saying, "The message is clear and simple. The future of Ukraine is a future of peace and freedom. And it’s the future of Europe, a future of peace and freedom, for which there are no other possible solutions."