• Last minute of the war in Ukraine

Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky met for 40 minutes at the Vatican today, a long-awaited meeting that comes after the pontiff revealed that a mission is underway to end the war in Ukraine, of which the details are not yet known.

Zelenski told the pope today that it was "a great honor" to see him while he put his hand to his heart, while the pontiff gave him "thanks for the visit," according to the images that have transcended the beginning of the meeting between the two that has already concluded.

The Pope gave him a bronze work depicting an olive branch, a symbol of peace, as well as this year's Message for Peace, the Document on Human Fraternity, and the volume "An Encyclical on Peace in Ukraine." The Ukrainian president, for his part, gave him a work of art made with a bulletproof vest and a painting entitled "Loss". on the killing of children during the conflict.

It is the Pope's first meeting with the Ukrainian president since the war began, although both already know each other because Francis received Zelenski in audience on February 8, 2020, when they already spoke "of the humanitarian situation and the search for peace" in the context "of the conflict that, since 2014, it hits Ukraine."

This new meeting comes in the middle of the Vatican peace mission announced by the pontiff on the return flight from his recent trip to Hungary and of which the details are not yet known, although a Vatican source has indicated to Russian media that the meeting "is not directly related" to her and that Zelenski requested the meeting with Francis "only a few days ago." In addition, it occurs when an imminent Ukrainian counteroffensive is expected with which Kiev wants to reconquer much of the territory occupied by Moscow.

A few hours earlier Zelenski had been received with military honors by the head of the Italian state, Sergio Mattarella, as well as with the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.

Mattarella received the Ukrainian president in the courtyard of the Quirinal Palace, the seat of the Presidency, where Zelenski received military honors and where the anthems of both countries were heard, in addition to raising the flag of Ukraine.

"

We are fully at your side. Welcome, President," Matterella told Zelenskiy at the start of talks between the two delegations, the Italian and Ukrainian.

After the meeting with the Italian head of state, Zelenski went to the Chigi palace, where he met with Meloni, who promised Italy's full support to Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia's "brutal and unjust aggression."

Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Meloni said Italy would continue to supply weapons to Ukraine and support his country for as long as necessary. "We are betting on the victory of Ukraine," Meloni said.

The Italian capital has been shielded for the visit of Zelenski and the security forces have maximized security measures with a thousand agents deployed, a no-fly zone and several teams of snipers located on the planned route of Zelenski, where many Ukrainian refugees have gathered to greet their president.

  • War Ukraine Russia
  • Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Pope Francis I
  • Giorgia Meloni
  • Italy
  • Ukraine

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Learn more