Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met for 30 minutes with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the inauguration events for Pope Leo XIV, reports RTE.
This marked the first face-to-face interaction between Zelensky and Vance since their disagreement at the White House in February regarding the direction of the conflict in Ukraine.
According to a Ukrainian official, the discussion included preparations for an upcoming phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports RTE.
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo XIV hosted his initial private audience as head of the Catholic Church with Mr Zelensky, emphasizing a desire for peace in what he called a “martyred Ukraine.”
“The martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen,” the 69-year-old pontiff said during a prayer following the mass, reports RTE.
After the service, Mr Zelensky greeted Pope Leo with a handshake, before he and his wife proceeded to a closed-door meeting with the pope.
In Vatican footage, the Pope greeted the Ukrainian president with: “Nice to see you again.”
Once seated, the pontiff apologized to the couple for the delay, reports RTE.
As is tradition, the parties exchanged gifts during the visit.
Pope Leo held only two private audiences that day.
The second was with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. The pontiff spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and also holds citizenship there, reports RTE.
During his homily, Pope Leo expressed his vision for the Church to act as a “leaven for a reconciled world,” advocating for global peace.
Mr Zelensky later posted on Telegram: “We are grateful for the special words spoken today at the solemn mass about the need for a just peace and for the attention given to Ukraine and our people, reports RTE.
“Every nation deserves to live in peace and security,” reports RTE.
He extended his congratulations to the Pope “on the beginning of such a special mission.”
“May the prayers for a just peace and a dignified life for all people be heard,” he added, reports RTE.
Zelensky met with the late Pope Francis several times, who also urged peace in Ukraine and even dispatched a special envoy to Kyiv and Moscow.
However, many Ukrainians remain critical of Francis, accusing him of not directly blaming Russia for the invasion and urging Ukraine to surrender with a “white flag,” reports RTE.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv held direct negotiations this week for the first time in over three years, though a ceasefire was not achieved.
During his Regina Coeli prayer, Pope Leo also highlighted global suffering: “In Gaza, children, families and elderly survivors are reduced to hunger.” He also reflected on Myanmar, saying “in Myanmar, new hostilities have destroyed innocent young lives,” reports RTE.
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