Zelensky plans to attend Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo
Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Andrew Medichini / Reuters
President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to attend the inaugural Mass of the newly elected Pope Leo at the Vatican, scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025. The announcement was made by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak in a statement to Reuters.
Yermak said that Zelensky is “ready to hold talks with any other world leaders on the sidelines of the inauguration.” According to him, the pontiff expressed to Zelensky his willingness “to facilitate such meetings and promised to ‘do everything possible’ to help achieve a just and lasting peace.”
At the same time, Yermak admitted that Zelensky's attendance is not yet certain, given the President’s extremely busy schedule. “As you know, we still have several very important meetings before Sunday,” he said, referring to possible peace negotiations with the aggressor state in Turkey.
Yermak recalled that during the funeral of Pope Francis, Zelensky met with Donald Trump in St. Peter’s Basilica. “It’s a wonderful place for such meetings. The meeting with Trump is proof of that,” he said.
He also noted that the pope’s response to Zelensky’s invitation to visit Ukraine was “very, very positive,” although no commitments were made.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Zelensky assured Pope Leo that he is ready for direct negotiations with Russia.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".