Pope Leo Urges Russia to Support Peace in Call with Putin In his first phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo appealed for Russia to take steps toward ending the Ukraine conflict. The Vatican stated that the pope emphasized the importance of dialogue and efforts to find peaceful solutions, calling for gestures that could facilitate peace and humanitarian aid. During the conversation, Putin expressed gratitude for the pope’s willingness to help resolve the war. He also claimed that Ukraine is seeking to escalate the conflict through sabotage acts on Russian infrastructure, which Russia considers acts of terrorism. The Kremlin highlighted that addressing the root causes, including Russia’s demands for Ukraine’s neutrality and NATO’s eastward expansion, remains essential for peace.
The Vatican acknowledged the dialogue but reiterated its hope to play a diplomatic role in fostering peace talks. Pope Leo also discussed issues of religious freedom, expressing hope that the Vatican could help support the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with ties to Russia, amid ongoing religious tensions in Ukraine. While some reports suggest the Vatican could host peace negotiations, Russian officials remain cautious about the Vatican’s suitability for such talks. Overall, the call marks a diplomatic effort to encourage dialogue and de-escalation amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
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