Pope makes plea for peace with Ukraine in call with Putin

Pope Leo XIV has made a nonstop plea for bid with Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin successful their archetypal telephone since the American pontiff took up the highest spot successful the Catholic Church past month. 

Following the telephone connected Wednesday, the Vatican said the pope emphasized the "importance of dialogue" though it is unclear if helium encouraged Putin to prosecute successful nonstop discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which the Kremlin main has truthful acold refused to do.

While the brace besides discussed humanitarian issues, captive exchanges and aid, Putin besides seemingly accused Kyiv of "escalating" the warfare during the telephone call.

An detonation is seen Tuesday, June 3, on the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and Crimea. (APTN/Ukrainian Security Service)

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Putin seemingly told the pope "that the Kyiv authorities is banking connected escalating the struggle and is carrying retired sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory."

The assertion was successful notation to a caller onslaught connected the Kerch Bridge this week, which links Crimea, the Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Moscow successful 2014, and Russia. 

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass during the ceremonial inauguration of his pontificate successful St. Peter's Square, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino)

The onslaught came aft a monolithic drone cognition targeted Russia’s subject analyzable and destroyed dozens of warplanes susceptible of deploying cruise missiles. 

A rescuer works astatine a tract of a Russian drone onslaught successful Dnipro, Ukraine, successful a representation released connected April 30. (Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Civil Administration Serhiy Lysak via Telegram/Handout via Reuters)

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The onslaught reportedly prompted Putin to question the worth of bid talks, though the Kremlin has already been accused of failing to enactment successful ceasefire attempts successful bully religion arsenic it continues to lb Ukrainian cities with drone and rocket strikes. 

In a readout of the call, the Kremlin besides seemingly called connected the Vatican to "take a much progressive role" in advocating for spiritual freedoms successful Ukraine erstwhile it comes to members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has historical links to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends Orthodox Easter Mass astatine the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour connected April 24, 2022, successful Moscow. (Getty Images)

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Criminal proceedings person been levied by Ukrainian authorities against clergy members implicit suspected sympathies for Moscow.

Ukraine’s overseas ministry successful April besides accused Russia of spiritual oppression successful occupied territories, wherever hundreds of churches person been destroyed, and immoderate 67 clergy members killed since the commencement of the war.