Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited the new Pope Leo XIV to visit the country after holding his first phone call with the pontiff on Monday.
Writing on his official X handle after what he called a warm and truly substantive discussion with the new head of the Catholic Church,
Zelenskyy said such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people The Vatican is yet to comment on the invitation.
Zelenskyy is expected to attend the mass for the inauguration of the new pope at the Vatican on Sunday.
Recall that Ukraine has been fighting to repel a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.
The newly elected US-born pope expressed his solidarity with the beloved Ukrainian people in his first Sunday prayer in front of more than 100,000 people.
“May everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace, as soon as possible.
“May all prisoners be released and the children be able to return to their families,” Leo XIV said.
The Vatican had reportedly tried to mediate between Ukraine and Russia over the past three years, but without much success.
