Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a pivotal phone call with Pope Leo XIV on May 12, 2025, marking their first conversation since the American-born cardinal was elected the 267th pope on May 8. The discussion, described as warm and substantive, focused on advancing a ceasefire in Ukraine’s war with Russia and addressing the humanitarian crisis, particularly the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children, as Zelenskyy extended an invitation for the pontiff to visit Ukraine.
The call came a day after Pope Leo XIV’s first Sunday address from St. Peter’s Basilica, where he called for a “genuine, just, and lasting peace” in Ukraine and condemned global conflicts as a “third world war in pieces.” Zelenskyy thanked the pope for his vocal support, noting that the Vatican’s moral authority could bolster international efforts to end the war, now in its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian leader invited Leo XIV to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine, stating that such a trip would inspire hope among believers and civilians enduring relentless Russian attacks.
A central topic was the plight of approximately 19,000 Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia, a humanitarian issue Zelenskyy has repeatedly raised with global leaders. He emphasized Ukraine’s reliance on the Vatican’s diplomatic influence to facilitate their return, citing the Holy See’s prior success in mediating prisoner exchanges. Pope Leo XIV, who as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru in 2022 condemned Russia’s invasion as “imperialist,” reaffirmed his commitment to humanitarian efforts, pledging to engage papal envoys to negotiate the children’s repatriation and the release of prisoners of war.
Zelenskyy also briefed the pope on a 30-day ceasefire proposal, backed by Ukraine and its Western allies, which began on May 12, 2025, but has been rejected by Russia in favor of a three-day truce tied to its Victory Day celebrations. The Ukrainian president reiterated his readiness for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, referencing a planned meeting in Istanbul on May 15, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts. However, Russian drone attacks on May 12, injuring seven civilians in Donetsk, underscored Moscow’s reluctance to honor the ceasefire, complicating peace prospects.
The conversation highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s early focus on global peace, building on his predecessor Pope Francis’s legacy. The pontiff, who celebrated his first Mass as pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, has signaled continuity in the Vatican’s advocacy for marginalized communities and conflict resolution. Zelenskyy and Leo XIV agreed to plan an in-person meeting, with the Vatican expressing openness to further diplomatic initiatives. As Ukraine faces ongoing Russian assaults, including 108 drone strikes overnight on May 12, the call underscores the intersection of faith and diplomacy in seeking an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.