Painting of Bucha and flower of peace: Zelensky exchanges gifts with Pope
Pope Francis and President Zelensky. Photo: Radio Svoboda
On October 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Francis during his visit to the Vatican, reports the Italian resource Ansa.it.
The meeting lasted 35 minutes, from 9:45 to 10:20, in the library of the Apostolic Palace. Afterward, there was a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation.
Pope Francis gave the Ukrainian president a bronze bas-relief depicting a blooming flower with the inscription: "Peace is a fragile flower." In return, Zelensky presented the pontiff with an oil painting titled "The Massacre in Bucha: The Story of Marichka."
“The talks in the Secretariat of State were dedicated to the state of the war and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as well as ways that could bring it to an end, leading to a just and stable peace in the country. In addition, a number of issues concerning religious life in the country were discussed," said the Vatican press release.
As reported by the UOJ, religious expert Liudmila Fylypovych suggested that the Pope might demand that Zelensky repeal Law 3894-IX, which concerns the Church ban.
Read also
OCU: Filaret did not want UOC-KP to exist after his death
The OCU insists that Filaret wanted the Kyiv Patriarchate to cease to exist after his death.
Lawyer warns of planned seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv
The head of the religious community of the Holy Ascension Church in Demiivka has been unlawfully replaced, according to a lawyer.
UOC bishop comments on situation around Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi
Metropolitan Meletiy said court rulings transferring Bukovyna’s main shrine to the OCU are unlawful.
SBU detains antisemite calling to tear down banners for Jewish holidays
In Zakarpattia, authorities exposed an online agitator who used social media to incite religious hatred.
OCU: Those ordained by Filaret after the Tomos are not bishops
The OCU maintains that hierarchs of the UOC-KP, unlike those aligned with Dumenko, are non-canonical schismatics.
UK lawmakers demand security guarantees for Christians in Nigeria
British MPs have called for the protection of Christians in Nigeria to be made a condition of bilateral relations amid rising violence and attacks on believers.