In his first direct conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo made a strong plea for peace in Ukraine, calling on Moscow to make a goodwill gesture that could help end the ongoing conflict. The Vatican confirmed the phone call took place Wednesday afternoon and emphasized the pope’s message about the importance of dialogue and humanitarian cooperation.
The Vatican’s unusually detailed readout revealed that discussions covered aid access, prisoner exchanges, and the efforts of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who serves as the Holy See’s peace envoy to Ukraine.
Putin, according to the Kremlin, thanked Pope Leo—who became the first American pope just weeks ago—for his willingness to mediate and blamed Kyiv for escalating the conflict. He reiterated claims that Ukraine was targeting civilian infrastructure, which Russia labeled as acts of terrorism.
The Kremlin also repeated its longstanding position that any resolution must address the “root causes” of the war, including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and its neutral status.
While the Vatican has offered to host peace negotiations, Russia has pushed back, citing religious and political differences, particularly the Orthodox majority in both nations. Nevertheless, ties between the Vatican and Moscow have remained relatively cordial, especially on humanitarian fronts.
Pope Leo’s outreach comes after earlier meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which he referred to Ukraine as a “martyred” nation.
The Vatican also thanked Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill for his congratulatory message to Pope Leo—despite Kirill’s past support for Putin, which strained relations under Pope Francis.
The Kremlin expressed hope that the Vatican would advocate for religious freedoms in Ukraine, especially for members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church historically linked to Moscow. Kyiv has taken legal action against many of its clergy, accusing them of pro-Russian sympathies.