Zelenskyy to Meet World Leaders at Papal Inauguration
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will attend the inaugural mass of newly elected Pope Leon XIV on Sunday, along with other world leaders, according to the Vatican.
Pope Leon XIV’s Background
Born in Chicago, Pope Leon XIV spent many years in Peru before becoming the spiritual leader of the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide.
US Delegation and Diplomatic Efforts
Vice President JD Vance, who had a contentious encounter with Zelenskyy at the White House in February, will lead the US delegation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also part of the delegation.
Zelenskyy expressed enthusiasm about meeting other leaders aside from the inauguration, according to a high-ranking official interviewed by Reuters this week. During his visit to the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, Zelenskyy held face-to-face conversations with then-President Donald Trump in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Rubio mentioned on Saturday that he would discuss efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who was sent by the late Pope Francis to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t call it mediation, but I believe it’s a place where both parties would feel comfortable attending,” Rubio suggested before the meeting.
Expected Attendees
Apart from Zelenskyy, other expected attendees include the presidents of Israel, Peru, and Nigeria; the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Australia; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Numerous European royals, such as the Spanish monarchs, will also be present. Russia will be represented by Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, according to the Vatican.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pope Leon XIV? Born in Chicago and raised in Peru, Pope Leon XIV is the newly elected spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide.
- What is the purpose of Zelenskyy’s attendance? Zelenskyy will attend the inaugural mass to meet other world leaders and potentially discuss matters related to the ongoing conflict.
- Who will lead the US delegation? Vice President JD Vance will head the US delegation, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- What role will the Vatican play in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict? The Vatican may serve as a comfortable setting for dialogue between the conflicting parties, according to US diplomatic suggestions.
