Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to the Vatican to attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo, according to a statement released by the Vatican on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The visit comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by Ukraine to strengthen its global alliances while continuing to seek support for its struggle against Russian aggression.
The Vatican confirmed that President Zelensky will join a number of international dignitaries and heads of state at the religious ceremony, which will mark the formal beginning of Pope Leo’s papacy. The newly elected pope, who succeeded Pope Francis, is expected to use the occasion to deliver a message of peace and unity to a deeply divided global audience.
President Zelensky’s attendance is seen as both symbolic and strategic. It underscores Ukraine’s close relationship with the Catholic Church and its ongoing campaign to keep global attention focused on the war in Eastern Europe. Ukrainian officials have said the president also intends to hold private discussions with Vatican officials regarding humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges, and religious freedoms in Russian-occupied territories.
The Vatican has previously played a subtle but consistent role in calls for peace, with Pope Francis repeatedly urging both sides to engage in honest dialogue and expressing sorrow for the victims of the war. While the Holy See has avoided taking sides, it has criticized the destruction caused by the conflict and made several attempts to mediate, particularly on humanitarian grounds.
Sources inside the Ukrainian government indicate that Zelensky may use his visit to ask Pope Leo for continued moral and spiritual support, especially in light of recent escalations in the Donbas region and ongoing Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
In a press briefing earlier this week, a Vatican spokesperson reiterated Pope Leo’s commitment to “the dignity of all human life and the need for global reconciliation.” The pope is also expected to mention ongoing crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar in his first homily as pontiff, reflecting his focus on global humanitarian issues.
President Zelensky’s presence at the Mass sends a clear message that Ukraine continues to seek moral solidarity from the international community while reinforcing its role as a democratic nation in the heart of Europe. His visit also emphasizes the importance of soft power and religious diplomacy in the ongoing effort to secure peace in a war that has now entered its third year.
With Pope Leo set to shape the spiritual direction of over a billion Catholics worldwide, Zelensky’s participation at this significant religious event highlights the intersection of faith and global politics in a time of unprecedented challenges.
Source; Reuters
