Pope, Ukraine president discuss dialogue and just peace

“In addition, the questions of prisoners of war and the need to assure the return of Ukrainian children to their families were also discussed,” the Vatican press office said in a communique released after the meeting on December 9.

The two leaders held their closed-door morning meeting at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome. The meeting lasted about 30 minutes.

“During the cordial talks, which focused on the war in Ukraine, the Holy Father reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace,” the Vatican communique said.

Meeting reporters outside the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo later on December 9, Pope Leo was asked again about his opinion of US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Pope Leo responded that he did not want to comment since he had not read the whole plan.

But, as he had told reporters returning to Rome with him from Lebanon on December 2, the Pope said he was concerned about the initial lack of European input into the plan.

“Unfortunately, some parts of it that I have seen make a huge change in what was for many, many years, a true alliance between Europe and the United States,” he said.

And “remarks that are made about Europe, also in interviews recently, I think, are trying to break apart what I think needs to be a very important alliance today and in the future”, the Pope continued.

He was seemingly talking about remarks in Mr Trump’s National Security Strategy, released on December 5, and the President’s recent interview with Politico, both of which described Europe as weak, ineffectual and overrun with immigrants.

The meeting with the Pope came after President Zelenskyy met British, French and German leaders in London on December 8 to bolster support for Ukraine and increase economic pressure on Russian President Vladímir Putin to put an end to the war on his neighbour.

FULL STORY

Dialogue, diplomacy can lead to just, lasting peace in Ukraine, pope says (By Carol Glatz/Catholic News Service)

Pope says US-European alliance needs to be strong (Catholic News Service)