Zelensky asks Pope Francis for support on urgent humanitarian Issues
The Vatican can deliver concrete results
An intense diplomatic exercise for President Zelensky as he tours key European capitals seeking increased support for Ukraine and presenting Ukraine’s victory plan.
President Zelensky met Pope Francis today in Rome. Both discussed the ongoing aggression of Russia against Ukraine and the effects of the war, especially on children and captured persons. It is the third meeting between the two since the war started in 2022 and a second private audience with the pontiff.
Ukraine’s President used the 30-minute-long meeting with the Pope at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace to press on humanitarian issues where the Vatican can make a difference. This includes the illegal capture and deportation of people from the conflict areas into Russia.
“We are counting on the Holy See's assistance in helping to bring back Ukrainians who have been taken captive by Russia,” Zelensky wrote on X.
Ukraine’s leader gave the Pope a painting, “The Bucha Massacre – the Story of Marichka.” It depicts a child who survived the horrendous atrocities by the Russian forces in 2022 when her closest family members were all killed.
In addition to meeting the Pope, Ukraine’s Zelensky met with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
According to the Vatican’s press office, Zelensky and Parolin discussed the current situation in Ukraine, including humanitarian concerns, and how it can be resolved to lead to “just and stable peace.”
“We discussed the implementation of the Peace Formula, with a particular focus on the point regarding the return of deported children and the release of civilian hostages and prisoners of war.
Special attention was given to the preparation of a conference based on this point of the Peace Formula, which will take place on October 30-31 in Canada,” Zelensky announced.
Additionally, discussions surrounding the religious life in Ukraine were also on the agenda.
The issue of the recent law on banning the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the possible ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is something that the Pope publicly disagreed with.
He criticised the move by Ukraine’s leadership calling for no state intervention and opposing closure of churches. The Pope made a powerful statement against the law on 25 August.
“Let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church. Please, let no Christian Church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches are not to be touched,” the pontiff urged.
Pope Francis’ surprising announcement of 21 new cardinals and the nomination of Ukrainian-born Mykola Bychok, a bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia, as a cardinal is another topic of joint interest.
In a separate meeting, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, also met with Pope Francis to discuss the “challenges of pastoral ministry during wartime.”