- Cindy Wooden (Vatican City, CNS). Pope Leo XIV and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first telephone conversation on June 4. In the call, the Pope of the Catholic Church has encouraged Putin to make a gesture of peace with Ukraine, the Vatican press office has reported.
"I confirm that this afternoon there has been a telephone conversation between the Pope Leo XIV and President Putin," said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican office.
While they discussed various "matters of mutual interest," Bruni said that "special attention was paid to the situation in Ukraine and peace."
A gesture of peace and humanitarian situation
"The Pope has called on Russia to make a gesture that promotes peace, and has stressed the importance of dialogue for the realization of positive contacts between the parties and the search for solutions to the conflict," Bruni said.
The Pope and the Russian president also discussed the humanitarian situation, the need to facilitate the delivery of aid, and the ongoing negotiations on the exchange of prisoners of war. An effort involving Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, said.
Bruni added that Pope Leo spoke about Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, an ally of Putin.
Common Christian values of the Pope and Patriarch Kirill
The Pope thanked the patriarch for sending his best wishes at the beginning of his pontificate, Bruni said, and "emphasized how common Christian values can be a light to help seek peace, defend life and pursue authentic religious freedom."
In a post on Telegram, Russian news agency Tass, quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, said that "Putin drew the Pope's attention to the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict by the Kiev (Kyiv) regime," likely referring to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian warplanes on June 1.
Tass also reported that "Putin has expressed hope that the Holy See will intensify its efforts to promote religious freedom in Ukraine." A reference to the Ukrainian parliament's decision in 2024 to ban the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine and ties with religious organizations based in Russia.
Putin's thanks
Vladimir Putin "has thanked the Pope for his readiness to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine," Tass has reported. Pope Leo had offered the Vatican as a neutral venue for peace talks, but Russia declined the invitation.
"The Russian leader has reiterated his interest in achieving peace in Ukraine by political and diplomatic means," Tass has said.
