Ukraine: Cardinal Parolin meets President Zelensky

Image Vatican Media

Source: Vatican News

The Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin was received in Kyiv by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, yesterday. During their meeting he conveyed the Pope's solidarity and the Holy See's commitment to help find "a just and lasting peace"."

Last year Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna and head of the Italian bishops, to visit Ukraine and met with President Zelensky.

Over the years, Zelensky has had several opportunities to speak with the Pope personally. The last occasion was on June 14, 2024, on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in southern Italy. Prior to that, on December 28, 2023, Zelensky reported on his X account about a phone conversation he had with Pope Francis for Christmas greetings. On that occasion, he wrote, the emphasis was on a "just peace for all of us" and the Vatican's appreciation for the presidential peace plan.

The Pope had previously received the Ukrainian President at the Vatican on May 13 of the same year, their second in-person meeting after their first in 2020, and the first since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Two days after the conflict broke out, on February 26, 2022, Pope Francis - as Zelensky reported on Twitter - expressed profound sorrow for what was happening. In turn, the President stated that the Ukrainian people felt the spiritual support of the Pope.

Another phone conversation took place on March 22, 2022. On that occasion, on Twitter, Zelensky said he had briefed the Pope on "the difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of humanitarian corridors by Russian forces," and welcomed "the Holy See's mediation role in ending human suffering."

Then, another call occurred on August 12, 2022. Again on Twitter, the Ukrainian President said that the conversation focused on the horrors experienced by the population due to the Russian invasion. Zelensky expressed gratitude to the Pope for his prayers and expressed hopes for a papal visit.

During Tuesday's meeting between President Zelensky awarded Cardinal Parolin with the Order of Merit. In a post on X following the meeting, the Ukrainian President said the award is in recognition of the Cardinal's "exceptional role in the development of bilateral relations" and his "support during the terrible period of aggression."