Pope Francis met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday at the Vatican to discuss the humanitarian crisis and possible paths to peace. The Pope expressed particular concern for Ukrainian children impacted by the war. He noted that many had “lost the ability to smile” according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office. Read more
Pope Francis’ recent remark urging Kyiv to show the “courage of the white flag” has drawn criticism from Ukrainian and allied officials. Many perceive the statement as a call for Ukraine to surrender in its conflict with Russia. In an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, Francis advocated for peace talks brokered by Read more
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has publicly criticised Pope Francis for his pro-Russian stance. Ukraine’s Eastern Rite Catholic bishops echoed Podolyak’s comments. Podolyak firmly rejected any notion of the Vatican mediating in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and hinted at possible Russian influence within the Vatican bank. Podolyak’s criticism Read more
Pope Francis said on Friday there was no apparent end in sight to the Ukraine war as his peace envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, wrapped up three days of talks in Moscow. “The tragic reality of this war that seems to have no end, demands of everyone a common creative effort to imagine and forge paths Read more
Father Vyacheslav Grynevych vividly remembers the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine one year ago. The Catholic priest woke up to a phone call: “Father, wake up because the war has started.” “I understood that my life would never be the same as before,” Grynevych said. A few days ahead of the Read more
Pope Francis has condemned Russia’s “relentless bombing” of Ukrainian cities, saying the attacks had unleashed a “hurricane of violence” on residents. Speaking to a large crowd at his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square, Francis also appealed to “those who have the fate of the war in their hands” to stop. “My heart is Read more
In a new interview, Pope Francis laid to rest rumours that a papal visit to Kyiv could happen before his visit to Kazakhstan next week, saying he has been forbidden by doctors from travelling before that due to his ongoing knee troubles. Speaking to CNN Portugal, the pope said he has spoken to both Ukrainian Read more
The Vatican acted to mend strained relations with Ukraine on Tuesday after Pope Francis upset Kyiv by referring to Russian ultra-nationalist Darya Dugina, who was killed by a car bomb near Moscow, as an innocent victim of war. Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba summoned the Vatican’s ambassador in Kyiv to protest, saying the Read more
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the Vatican’s role in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has impacted the Eastern European country for more than four weeks. “The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated,” President Zelenskyy wrote, adding that he thanked the pope “for the prayers for Ukraine and Read more