Pope meets Ukraine Zelenski after taking office

Pope Leo XIV met with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski after his table for taking office.

By posting to Telegram after the meeting, Zelenski thanked the new Catholic leader for his “Support for Ukraine” and “A clear voice in defense of fair and lasting peace.”

Turning to thousands of St. Peter’s Square, the Pope used his opening mass to emphasize fears about the war in Ukraine, also warned against the marginalization of the poor and the autocracy.

Zelenski, US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among the sanitaries present.

The pontiff was depicted to shake hands with the Ukrainian leader, who also thanked the Vatican for “his willingness to become a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia”.

Last week, Pope Leo proposed the Vatican as a place for possible peace talks after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Zelenski’s proposal to meet face -to -face negotiations.

The Pope uses his liturgy to criticize “hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of difference and economic paradigm that uses Earth’s resources and marginalizes the most,”.

He also said he would seek to manage “without the temptation of being an autocrat.”

Thousands of pilgrims stood in awe when the Pope received the symbols of the service, bless people and issued a strong appeal for unity.

Before the liturgy, there were cheers from the crowd as the pontiff appeared at his popmobile as he moved around the square of St. Peter and down through the Della Consigiliazione to the Tiber River and back.

There was a strong sense of excitement on the square. Michelle from Germany told the BBC that “it came to see the Pope on purpose.”

“I arrived yesterday morning and leave in a few hours, so I don’t have much time. It’s very crazy because there are so many people. I wanted to see the Pope.”

Many of the tens of thousands of attendees were Catholics, but tourists were also part of the historical occasion.

Joe of Missouri in the United States said, “We’re on vacation, but it’s a great time. We’re here to see the Pope’s introductory liturgy. It’s very special. I’m glad we came early.”

He said he was “extra proud” to see the first pope of the United States. “It was a surprise. He will be a wonderful pope. I’m not a Catholic, but I grew up a Catholic, but it’s just inspiring, no matter what the denomination of Christians you are.”

It was also in the crowds, from Chile, a professor of philosophy at the University of Holy Cross in Rome. She told the BBC that she thinks she has a “new hope in the church.”

I drink said that among the first words of the Pope, when he was chosen, was “Let the peace be with you,” the words of Jesus. And then he said “Don’t be afraid.”

“He knows what the world and the church needs. A church that preaches hope, preaching peace. I think many people are waiting for it,” she said.

The official inauguration of the Pope followed the table, with a Paliy garment – white woolen tape – placed on the pope’s shoulders and fixed in place with three pins to represent the nails on the waist.

Then Cardinal Luis Antonio Tyle of the Philippines placed on the finger of the fisherman’s pope, a symbol of the papacy that bears an image of St. Peter.

Then Pope Leo took the Gospel’s book to bless people.