Pope Leo XIV asks Putin to make peace gesture towards Ukraine

 VATICAN CITY - Putin announced that he had had his first phone call with Pope Leo XIV and thanked him "for his willingness to resolve the crisis,” which was also confirmed by conversation was confirmed by the Holy See. 

 Pope Francis, Leo XIV’s predecessor famously never spoke to Putin again after he invaded Ukraine and the Kremlin did not attend the Holy Father’s funeral due to the international warrant out for his arrest. The Holy See released a statement that read, "the Pope appealed for Russia to make a gesture that promotes peace, he stressed the importance of dialogue for the creation of positive contacts between the parties and to seek solutions to the conflict." 

 The two also spoke about "the humanitarian situation, the need to promote aid where necessary, the ongoing efforts for the exchange of prisoners and the value that Cardinal Zuppi plays in this regard." The Kremlin called the dialogue "constructive, both parties have expressed their intention to continue contacts" and said he was “willing to achieve peace through political and diplomatic means" but accused Kiev of a lack of commitment to reaching a compromise. As for the prisoner exchange dossier, Putin mentioned the return of Ukrainian children with their families, at the heart of the mission carried out by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on behalf of Pope Francis.

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