Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, his second meeting with the pontiff amid ongoing tensions stemming from the Holy See’s controversial remarks regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 35-minute meeting included an exchange of gifts, with Pope Francis presenting Zelensky with a bronze bas-relief featuring a flower and the inscription, “peace is a fragile flower,” as reported by the ANSA news agency. In return, Zelensky gifted the pope an oil painting titled “The Bucha Massacre – the Story of Marichka.” The artwork highlights the tragic events in Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, where Russian forces committed severe atrocities against civilians following the full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.
Details of their discussions have not yet been disclosed. The meeting comes against a backdrop of mixed reactions to the pope’s previous comments, including his suggestion in March that Ukraine should “not be ashamed to negotiate” with Russia, which was perceived in Kyiv as an implicit call to surrender.
The Vatican’s relationship with Ukraine has also been under scrutiny following the recent nomination of Mykola Bychok, a bishop from Ternopil who leads the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia, to the College of Cardinals. While some viewed the nomination positively, the choice of a lesser-known bishop over Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, surprised many.
Zelensky’s visit to the Vatican follows his engagements in the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, where he discussed Ukraine’s five-step victory plan with European leaders. He is also scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on October 11, continuing his tour to strengthen military support and rally backing for a just and lasting peace.
As the conflict intensifies and Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine, the situation remains critical, with the Ukrainian population bracing for energy shortages this winter. Additionally, the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House raises concerns about diminished U.S. support for Ukraine.
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