Pope Leo holds a private meeting with Zelensky
The meeting between the Pontiff and Zelensky lasted about half an hour.
On December 9, 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Italy as part of a European diplomatic tour, where he held a closed-door meeting with Pope Leo at the Barberini Villa in Castel Gandolfo. The meeting lasted around 30 minutes, after which the Pontiff and the President appeared together on the villa’s balcony for a joint photo.
This was Zelensky’s second meeting with the Pontiff – the previous one also took place in Castel Gandolfo, on July 9, 2025. At that time, issues of peace and humanitarian assistance were discussed, and the Vatican confirmed its readiness to facilitate negotiations.
The topics discussed by the Pope and Zelensky during their latest meeting remain unknown.
