Pope Francis meets Zelensky in Vatican to go over Ukraine War

Their second encounter in four months, Pope Francis visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican on October 11, 2024. At the apostolic palace, the two leaders spoke in private at Part of his European trip, Zelensky's visit to the Vatican marks him meeting with leaders of Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and NATO to forward his "victory plan" for Ukraine. Western officials said the talks are vital since Ukraine needs additional help to balance its battle with Russia at a pivotal point.

Following a contentious debate earlier this year when Pope Francis advised Ukraine to negotiate with Russia under the "white flag," a demand for peace that infuriated Ukrainian leaders, the conference reflects Zelensky wrote the remarks off as remote mediation. The pope has also attacked Ukraine's intentions to forbid a branch of the Christian Orthodox Church connected to Russia, which officials of the country claim to be housing spies and disseminating pro-Russian propaganda. These conflicts have complicated their communication even as the Vatican keeps trying to arbitrate.

Zelensky's European trip highlights Ukraine's pressing need for military and political support as winter sets in, a season that can provide fresh difficulties for the nation still under conflict. While all of this is happening, Pope Francis is negotiating tricky diplomacy between demands for peace and support for Ukrainian statehood. The pope also visited Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on Thursday, who expressed worries about the continuing violence and the suffering Ukraine would endure this winter.