The Holy See stated that the Pope discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine with Zelenskyy and the “pressing need to pursue peace through dialogue.” “The Pope expressed his sorrow for the victims of the war and assured the Ukrainian people of his prayers and continued closeness,

It was the second time the two have met after exchanging greetings at the Vatican on May 18 in the context of the Mass inaugurating Pope Leo’s pontificate.

Pope Leo told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks, the Vatican said in a statement. The pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy,