DE News Desk :
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is aiming to attend the inaugural Mass of newly elected Pope Leo at the Vatican this Sunday, pending any pressing developments in the ongoing war, a senior aide said on Tuesday.
In a phone interview with Reuters, Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said the president would welcome the opportunity to hold discussions with other global leaders on the sidelines of the ceremony in Rome.
“The president is planning to attend, but as always during wartime, plans can change,” Yermak said.
“We have important meetings this week, possibly including peace talks in Turkey, but I know he would be glad to be in Rome on such a significant day.”
Pope Leo, elected last Thursday in a closed conclave, will be officially installed as the new head of the Catholic Church at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square, expected to draw numerous heads of state and dignitaries from around the world.
According to Yermak, Pope Leo spoke to Zelensky by phone on Monday and expressed his willingness to help mediate discussions aimed at achieving a “just and lasting peace.”
The pontiff also offered to support bilateral meetings between attending leaders during the inauguration.
Zelensky last visited the Vatican on April 26, where he met U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral.
The two leaders reportedly discussed enhanced air defense cooperation and sanctions against Russia.“It’s a great setting for diplomacy.
The meeting with President Trump showed how productive such occasions can be,” Yermak noted.The U.S. administration has yet to confirm who will represent President Trump at Sunday’s ceremony.