On the morning of December 9, 2025, Pope Leo XIV received in a private audience, at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, the president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelensky. According to the statement released by the Holy See, the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and was mainly dedicated to analyzing the evolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
The audience took place in Villa Barberini and lasted approximately half an hour. According to Vatican News, the meeting occurs on the same day that Kyiv plans to share with the United States a revised version of its peace plan, following conversations in London with leaders from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Dialogue, peace, and humanitarian issues at the center of the meeting
The Vatican reports that the conversation mainly revolved around the war in Ukraine. The Pope reiterated the importance of continuing the dialogue and expressed his “fervent desire” that the ongoing diplomatic initiatives can lead to a just and lasting peace. Likewise, humanitarian issues already mentioned in previous meetings were addressed: the situation of prisoners of war and the need to ensure the return of Ukrainian children transferred out of the country during the conflict.
The issue of minors had already been central in the meeting on November 21, when the Pope received in the Apostolic Palace mothers, wives, and Ukrainian teenagers who had been forcibly taken to Russia and subsequently returned.
Exchange of gifts and assessment of the audience
During the traditional exchange of gifts, Zelensky gave the Pope a handcrafted Ukrainian nativity scene, while Leo XIV offered the leader a bronze formella depicting children rebuilding a globe, accompanied by the inscription Fratelli tutti, in reference to the encyclical on fraternity and social friendship.
The ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, described the meeting as “very sincere and serene,” highlighting the cordial atmosphere of the conversation.
Third private meeting between the Pope and the Ukrainian president
This audience constitutes the third private meeting between Zelensky and Pope Leo XIV. The first took place on May 18, after the Mass for the beginning of the pontificate, and was preceded by a phone call days earlier, in which Zelensky publicly invited the Pope to visit Ukraine. The second meeting was held on July 9, also in Castel Gandolfo, and addressed similar topics: the need for dialogue, the search for a just peace, and efforts to liberate prisoners of war. On that occasion, the Pope even expressed his willingness to receive in the Vatican representatives from Ukraine and Russia to facilitate peace negotiations.