Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, emphasizing the Vatican’s support for Ukraine and the need for peace during his six-day visit.

On Tuesday, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a six-day visit to Ukraine, emphasizing the Vatican’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people and the importance of working towards peace. In a video shared by Zelenskyy’s office, the president expressed gratitude to Parolin for visiting multiple Ukrainian cities, highlighting it as a positive signal of support from the Vatican. Zelenskyy also conveyed his thanks to Pope Francis for addressing the G7 summit in Puglia, where the pontiff spoke on the implications of artificial intelligence.

Zelenskyy appreciated Parolin’s involvement in the June 15-16 Peace Summit in Switzerland, considering it a significant initial step towards peace, and emphasized the urgency of ending the war to save lives. Parolin, in his response, recalled his 2021 visit to Ukraine for its 30th independence anniversary and reiterated the Holy Father’s commitment to Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

During his visit, Parolin celebrated Mass at the Marian shrine of Berdychiv, noting the emotional impact despite reduced attendance due to the war. Following the meeting, Parolin received the Order of Merit award for his significant contributions to bilateral relations between the Holy See and Ukraine and his support during the conflict with Russia.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, described Parolin’s meeting with Zelenskyy as a step in fostering positive cooperation between Ukraine and the Vatican. Parolin’s trip, marking his first official visit since Russia’s 2022 invasion, included stops in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, highlighting the city’s strategic importance and the ongoing Russian attacks.

In Kyiv, Parolin visited the Greek Catholic cathedral and met with Greek Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, toured the pediatric Okhmatdyt hospital, and met with Ukrainian parliamentary and government officials. Zelenskyy’s office described Parolin’s visit as a strong signal from the Vatican, with discussions covering the Switzerland peace summit’s decisions, the Holy See’s role in promoting peace, and the impact of Russia’s military actions.

The Vatican did not issue a separate statement following the meeting, but a post from the Secretariat of State on social media reaffirmed the pope’s dedication to achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

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