Pope Leo XIV Holds First Private Meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Holds First Private Meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska for a private audience at the Vatican today—marking the new pontiff’s first one-on-one meeting with a world leader since his inauguration earlier this week.

The meeting came just hours after the couple attended Pope Leo XIV’s formal installation ceremony in St. Peter’s Square. During the encounter, the Pope warmly greeted the Ukrainian leader, saying it was “a pleasure to see you again,” and offered an apology for keeping the president and first lady waiting.

Following the visit, Zelensky described Pope Leo XIV as “a symbol of hope and peace” in a message shared on social media. He emphasized the Holy See’s potential role in facilitating peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

“We are grateful to the Vatican for expressing readiness to host direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia,” Zelensky wrote. “Ukraine remains open to dialogue in any format that can deliver real results. We appreciate the Pope’s clear support for a just and lasting peace.”

The Vatican also confirmed that Pope Leo XIV held only one other private meeting today—with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. The Pope, a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, previously spent more than two decades as a missionary in the country.

A Key Diplomatic Moment

While in Rome, President Zelensky also met privately with U.S. Vice President JD Vance—their first one-on-one discussion since a high-profile clash at the White House in February. According to Zelensky, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also joined the meeting.

The Ukrainian president said the leaders discussed:

  • The latest round of Russia–Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul (held May 16),

  • The current battlefield situation,

  • Bilateral trade,

  • Additional sanctions against Russia,

  • And efforts to expand prisoner exchanges with Moscow.

“We of course spoke about joint efforts toward a fair and lasting peace,” Zelensky said. “I reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to pursue serious diplomacy and stressed the urgency of an immediate, unconditional, and comprehensive ceasefire.”

A senior Ukrainian official told reporters that Zelensky and Vice President Vance also discussed preparations for an upcoming call between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced plans to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19 to explore potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine. Trump is also expected to hold follow-up calls with Zelensky and several NATO heads of state after speaking with Putin.

(Source: AFP)

Hello Shuttle will strive to bring the latest updates. At the end of the day.

Are you looking for reliable airport and cruise port transfer services in Los Angeles?

We offer professional, safe, and punctual transportation from

Los Angeles Airport - LAX

Long Beach Airport - LGB

John Wayne Airport - SNA

San Pedro cruise port

Long Beach cruise port

Disneyland

and other destinations.

Let us make your journey stress-free and comfortable with our dedicated drivers and high-quality vehicles. Book now for the perfect travel experience at www.helloshuttle.com or call 944-800-5678!