Pope Leo XIV held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, urging Moscow to take concrete steps toward peace in Ukraine and emphasizing the need for dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Newsroom (05/06/2025 08:05 , Gaudium Press) According to a statement from Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni, the Pope and Putin discussed the worsening humanitarian situation, with the Pontiff calling for improved aid access to affected populations. “The Pope made an appeal for Russia to take a gesture that would favor peace,” Bruni said, “emphasizing the importance of dialogue to create positive contacts between the parties and seek solutions to the conflict.”
The call also touched on ongoing efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges, with Pope Leo praising the mediation work of Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, who has previously acted as a papal envoy in peace initiatives.
Additionally, the Pope acknowledged the congratulations sent by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the start of his pontificate. He stressed that shared Christian values should inspire efforts to “seek peace, defend life, and pursue genuine religious freedom.”
The discussion reflects the Vatican’s continued diplomatic engagement in the Ukraine crisis, balancing humanitarian appeals with cautious dialogue. No further details were provided on whether specific peace proposals were discussed.
Parallel Diplomacy: Trump-Putin Call
The papal appeal coincided with Trump’s 75-minute call with Putin, which the former president detailed on Truth Social. Trump confirmed discussions about Ukraine’s recent drone attack that destroyed multiple Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers, but downplayed hopes for an immediate breakthrough:
“It was a good conversation, but not one that will lead to immediate peace,” Trump wrote, adding that Putin had indicated “very strongly” that Russia would respond to the airfield strikes.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov later acknowledged the attack was “touched upon” but avoided confirming retaliation plans. The ambiguity drew sharp concern from Ukrainian officials, with lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko telling CNN that Trump’s neutral framing risked “tacitly approving escalation” by omitting calls to halt violence.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News, CNN and Crux Now
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