President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to attend the inaugural Mass of newly elected Pope Leo at the Vatican this Sunday, if his wartime obligations allow, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak told Reuters on May 13.
The event, taking place in St. Peter’s Square, will mark the formal installation of the new leader of the Catholic Church, who was elected on May 8. A number of global leaders are expected to be present.
“He (Zelensky) is planning to come, but you know that before (Sunday) we have some other very important meetings,” Yermak said, referring to potential peace talks scheduled in Turkey this week. He added that while plans remain uncertain due to the ongoing war, Zelensky would be “happy to be in Rome on this day.”
What will the new pope mean for Ukraine?
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include comments from a 2022 interview, given while Robert Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. With the announcement that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope and leader of the Catholic Church, Ukrainians are wondering what the surprise appointment of the American-born pontiff will mean for their country. Past comments made by the new pope, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, quickly surfaced to form an idea of his vie
Yermak confirmed that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for “a just and lasting peace.” According to Yermak, the pope spoke “very warmly” about Ukraine and reacted “very, very positively” to an invitation to visit the country, though no visit has been confirmed.
Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump met previously in St. Peter’s Basilica during the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. The two leaders reportedly discussed air defense systems and further sanctions on Russia. “It’s a great place for such meetings. The meeting with Trump was the confirmation of this,” Yermak said.
While the United States has yet to announce who will represent the Trump administration at Sunday’s Mass, expectations are high for key side meetings.
Yermak acknowledged past tensions between Kyiv and the Vatican during Pope Francis’s tenure—particularly after his controversial “white flag” comment—but expressed cautious optimism. “We think it (Leo’s papacy) will be some continuation of the policy of Pope Francis,” he said, noting the Church’s humanitarian aid and efforts to help return Ukrainian children taken by Russia. “But at the same time, it will be a new policy.”
As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putin’s next move
With just two days to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event. President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said he will meet Putin there, a move that puts the ball very much into the Kremlin’s court. Upping the pressure further, U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 12 that he believes that “both leaders” will be there, thrusting Putin into a delicate diplomatic dilemma
