Zelenskyy Meets Pope Leon XIV in Private Vatican Audience Amidst Ukraine Peace Efforts

Vatican City – In a significant development amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met privately with Pope Leon XIV at the Vatican. The meeting, which was announced mid-day following the Pope's inaugural mass, is seen as a crucial step in ongoing peace efforts. BFM TV's Jérémy Brossard, reporting from Rome, described the audience as "important for this new Pope." While no details of the private conversation have been released, the visual confirmation of the meeting itself carries significant weight. This private meeting follows a previous phone conversation between the two leaders, during which President Zelenskyy formally invited Pope Leon XIV to visit Ukraine. The Pope has consistently called for peace in Ukraine, describing the nation as "martyrized." This meeting underscores the Vatican's active role in seeking a resolution to the conflict and offers a glimmer of hope for peace negotiations.