The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo had a conversation with Vladimir Putin yesterday, during which they discussed several pressing issues.
Pope Leo, who is the first pope from the United States, engaged with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, June 4. Their discussion inevitably focused on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
It is somewhat unusual for the Vatican to release details of the pope’s phone conversations, but they made an exception in announcing this particular call.
During the discussion, Pope Leo reportedly encouraged Putin to make strides towards peace and work towards resolving the conflict.
This dialogue further underscores Pope Leo’s commitment to addressing the war in Ukraine, marking it as one of his key global priorities.
The Kremlin also acknowledged the conversation, noting Putin’s appreciation for Leo’s offer to mediate the conflict.
In an official statement, the Vatican noted: “The pope made an appeal for Russia to make a gesture that favors peace, emphasizing the importance of dialogue for achieving positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict.
“There was talk about the humanitarian situation, the need to facilitate aid where necessary, ongoing efforts for the exchange of prisoners, and the value of the work carried out in this regard by Cardinal (Matteo) Zuppi.”
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who serves as the archbishop of Bologna, is the Vatican’s envoy for peace-related efforts in Ukraine.
According to a Reuters article, the Kremlin’s statement concerning the talks mentioned that Putin accused Ukraine of aiming to intensify the conflict.
The Kremlin’s statement read: “The Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory.”
It also mentioned that addressing the ‘root causes’ of the conflict is essential, hinting at Russia’s request for Ukraine to maintain a neutral stance and for NATO to halt its eastward expansion.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump also noted that he had a phone conversation with Putin concerning the war in Ukraine.
On Truth Social, Trump mentioned that their discussion lasted about 75 minutes, though it wouldn’t immediately lead to an end to the war.
Trump suggested the potential for further escalation as Russia contemplates its reaction to a recent drone strike by Ukraine that damaged several Russian aircraft.
He stated: “We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides.
“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.”