Pope Francis received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican for the third time, and expressed his regret that many Ukrainian children have lost the ability to smile.
By Deborah Castellano-Luboff
As the war in Ukraine continues to claim countless lives, Pope Francis met for the third time in the Vatican with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis spoke with President Zelensky about the suffering of Ukrainian children, highlighting that many of them have lost the ability to smile.
The meeting, which lasted 35 minutes, took place in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on Friday morning. This is the fourth meeting between them after a bilateral meeting on June 14 on the sidelines of the Group of Seven in the Puglia region of Italy, after meetings in the Vatican on May 13, 2023, and before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, on May 13, 2023. February 8, 2020.
Call for peace and appeal to end suffering
According to another statement issued by the Holy See Press Office, the talks in the Foreign Secretariat were devoted to “the state of war and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine,” as well as “the ways in which it can be put to an end.” Which leads to a just and stable peace in the country.”
In addition, the statement noted that “a number of issues related to religious life in the country were also discussed.”
After that, the Ukrainian President met with the Vatican Foreign Minister, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Bishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
Separately, in a post on the #peace“
Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky
Exchanging gifts
As usual, the two leaders exchanged gifts, and the Pope also exchanged greetings with the delegation accompanying President Zelensky. The Ukrainian President presented Pope Francis with an oil painting entitled “Bucha Massacre. The Story of Marishka.”
Meanwhile, Pope Francis presented President Zelensky with a bronze cast of a flower engraved with the phrase “Peace is a fragile flower.”
The Pope also presented the President with this year’s Message of Peace, several papal documents and the book of March 27, 2020. Statue Orbisedited by the Vatican Press, as well as the volume Persecuted for the Truth, Ukrainian Greek Catholics Behind the Iron Curtain.
Pope Francis’ meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican
Constant proximity to Ukraine
Pope Francis has made countless calls for an end to the war and suffering since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, offering the Holy See’s readiness to help in any way in working toward peace.
The Holy Father also sent delegates and envoys to deliver ambulances, medical supplies and aid to the suffering nation.
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