Ambassador to Vatican allows possibility of Pope's visit to Ukraine in 2025
Pope Leo and Zelensky. Photo: OP website
The Vatican is considering the possibility of a visit by Pope Leo XIV to Ukraine later this year. This was stated by Ukraine's ambassador to the Holy See, Andriy Yurash, in an interview with LB.ua.
An official invitation from the Ukrainian president and church leaders has already been sent to the Holy See. According to the ambassador, the Pope is "paying very close attention" to these proposals and is consulting with various parties in preparing his decision.
"We hope that by autumn we may be ready for some of his important decisions. And, perhaps, among them will be this good news for Ukraine," the diplomat noted.
Yurash is convinced that the Pope's visit will be a powerful signal of international support and could become a decisive diplomatic step in advancing the negotiation process with the participation of the Vatican.
Of Pope Leo XIV's official visits, only the trip to Turkey on November 30 has been confirmed so far. Ukrainian diplomacy continues to work on organizing the Pontiff's visit in 2025.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zelensky invited Pope Leo to Kyiv and lobbied for the canonization of Sheptytsky.
Read also
U.S. bishops call for Church unity on Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
The Assembly of Bishops of the USA has issued an encyclical for the Triumph of Orthodoxy on Church unity, veneration of icons, and support for pan-Orthodox ministry.
OCU organizes harassment of businessman for aiding UOC
Hryshchuk called for boycotting the business of the entrepreneur who built a UOC church in the Rivne region.
Head of Lavra Reserve: I believe UOC monks will move to the OCU
Ostapenko said there are 140 UOC monks and novices on the territory of the Lower Lavra.
"Shield of Judah": Biblical name given to operations against Iran
A joint Israeli–US military operation against Iran has received a code name referencing the biblical forefather of the Jewish royal line.
In Syria, Islamic militants behead statues of Christ and Virgin Mary
Vandals beheaded statues of the Lord and the Mother of God at the entrance to the "Cave of the Virgin Mary" in the village of Al-Basiya near the coastal city of Banias in Syria.
Icon with particle of Gabriel Urgebadze's relics to be brought to Uzhhorod from Georgia
The holy icon, painted in Georgia, will be brought to the Holy Trinity Church of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC.