Pope Leo XIV offers to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks at the Vatican

The recently elected Pope Leo XIV has suggested that nan Vatican could big high-level negotiations betwixt Ukraine and Russia, arsenic Istanbul talks were watered down pursuing Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to travel look to look pinch his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin's connection connected Friday, nan ultimate pontiff plans to "if necessary, supply nan Vatican, nan Holy See, arsenic a nonstop gathering (place) betwixt nan 2 sides."

Parolin has besides expressed his disappointment pinch nan talks successful Turkey, which took spot connected Friday.

"It's each tragic because we hoped that a process would begin, possibly slowly, but pinch a serene solution of nan conflict. Instead, we are backmost to quadrate one."

"Now we will spot what to do, but nan business is very difficult, dramatic," Parolin added.

Will Pope Leo XIV sojourn Ukraine?

On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV received nan caput of Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church astatine nan Vatican, who thanked nan ultimate pontiff for his telephone for a peaceful, negotiated solution to Russia’s warfare successful Ukraine during 1 of his first audiences arsenic pontiff.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Galicia, said he invited nan pope to sojourn Ukraine and handed him a database of Ukrainian prisoners presently held by Russia. 

Under Pope Francis, nan Vatican had actively supported captive exchanges and advocated for nan return of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-occupied regions.

The Vatican did not rumor a general connection pursuing nan meeting, which marked 1 of nan earliest specified engagements for nan caller pope since his predetermination connected 8 May.

Since his appointment, Pope Leo XIV has many times voiced his solidarity pinch Ukraine. During his first Sunday Angelus blessing and again this week while addressing pilgrims from Eastern Rite churches, he renewed his entreaty for an extremity to nan conflict.

“I transportation successful my bosom nan sufferings of nan beloved Ukrainian people,” nan pontiff said connected Sunday. “Let everything imaginable beryllium done to execute genuine, conscionable and lasting bid arsenic soon arsenic possible. May each nan prisoners beryllium freed, and whitethorn nan children return to their families.”

Parolin said connected Thursday that it remained “premature” to see a papal sojourn to Kyiv, contempt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raising nan anticipation successful his first telephone telephone pinch nan pope earlier this week.

While nan Vatican traditionally maintains negotiated neutrality, Pope Leo XIV has pledged to make “every effort” to foster speech to extremity wars. 

“The Holy See is ever fresh to thief bring enemies together, look to face, to talk to 1 another, truthful that peoples everyplace whitethorn erstwhile much find dream and retrieve nan dignity they deserve, nan dignity of peace,” he said connected Wednesday.

Pope Leo XIV is group to beryllium officially appointed during a Mass astatine nan Vatican connected Sunday, pinch Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance expected to attend.