Pope Leo XIV has received a list of Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity from Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The list was handed over during a meeting at the Vatican, where Shevchuk urged the Pope to use his diplomatic influence to secure their release. Shevchuk emphasized the efforts already made by the Vatican to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia and noted that the Holy See’s mediation for the release of Ukrainians detained by the Russian army is not new.
During the meeting, Shevchuk offered Pope Leo XIV a symbolic gift – a painting entitled “Requiem Prayer” by Bohdan Pylypiv, father of a Ukrainian soldier killed in combat. The painting represents the unborn children of war, endless moments of loss, and the calamity looming over Ukraine and the world. Shevchuk expressed confidence that the delivery of the list to the Pope could lead to concrete consequences, potentially improving the attitude toward these prisoners.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace during his meeting with Shevchuk. The Pope’s stance aligns with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s efforts to secure peace negotiations. Zelensky has thanked Pope Leo XIV for his proposal to mediate in restoring peace around the world and plans to attend the Pope’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican on May 18, if circumstances allow.
The meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Shevchuk comes ahead of ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. Ukrainian and Russian delegations will meet to discuss potential peace agreements, marking the first such talks in three years. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky won’t attend the negotiations, his delegation will be led by top officials, including the defense minister and intelligence chiefs.