Verkhovna Rada Speaker meets with Pope and invites him to Ukraine
Pope Leo XIV and Ruslan Stefanchuk. Photo: VR Speaker's Facebook
During a working visit to Rome, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, visited the Vatican, where he met with Pope Leo XIV and invited him to Ukraine. The Speaker wrote about this on his Facebook on December 12, 2025.
"I conveyed to His Holiness words of gratitude from Ukrainian communities and invited him to make an Apostolic visit to Ukraine. A visit to our country would be a strong sign of solidarity and spiritual support for millions of Ukrainians in difficult times," Stefanchuk stated.
According to him, the parties discussed the humanitarian situation, the return of Ukrainian children, prisoners, and civilian hostages.
The Ukrainian side informed the pontiff about consultations with the USA and European partners.
"Ukraine strives for peace, but not according to the aggressor's scenario – not through concessions and not at the cost of legalizing the occupation of our territories. I noted the important role of the Vatican and Rome in the international peace process – as moral authorities capable of uniting positions and facilitating the search for solutions based on international law and human dignity," the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada explained the purpose of the visit.
As reported by the UOJ, on December 9, 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the US peace plan with Pope Leo and invited him to Ukraine at a meeting in the pontiff's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
Read also
Yelensky to CoE delegation: Russia is abandoning Leninist principles
In talks with a Council of Europe delegation, the head of Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics criticized Russia for abandoning Lenin-era policies toward ethnic minorities.
Ancient 4th–6th century monastery discovered in Egypt
An archaeological mission has uncovered a 2,000-square-meter monastic complex featuring monks’ cells, kitchens, and burial chambers.
Presidential Office chief hopes for major Easter prisoner swap
Kyrylo Budanov said he hopes Ukrainian prisoners of war will return home by Easter and outlined the work of the coordination headquarters.
Rada lawmaker says current MPs were “chosen by God”
Danylo Hetmantsev, head of the parliamentary finance committee, said the current members of parliament were chosen by God and entrusted with enormous responsibility.
New “patriarch” of UOC–KP fires his chancellor
Andriy Marutsak has been dismissed as chancellor and removed from the permanent members of the UOC–KP synod.
Hospital locks UOC church, plans demolition in Zaporizhzhia
The administration of Zaporizhzhia’s Fifth City Hospital has sealed off a UOC chapel inside its premises, barricading the entrance with beds and signaling plans to dismantle the interior – including the iconostasis and altar.