Overview
- Pope Leo XIV has proposed hosting peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican after failed discussions in Istanbul due to Vladimir Putin's absence.
- The pope has prioritized peace in Ukraine as a central focus of his new pontificate, emphasizing humanitarian issues like prisoner releases and child reunification.
- Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with the pope, invited him to visit Ukraine, and provided lists of Ukrainian captives held by Russia.
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, described the Istanbul summit's failure as a setback but reiterated the Holy See's readiness to facilitate dialogue.
- Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass, scheduled for Sunday, will be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscoring the Vatican's ongoing engagement in the conflict.