Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone to Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, the Vatican has confirmed.
The call centred on the present conflict with Ukraine, with the humanitarian situation, prisoner exchanges and a possible way out of the war all being discussed.
An announcement by Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said, “The Pope made an appeal for Russia to take a gesture that will favour peace, emphasizing the importance of dialogue to create positive contacts between the parties and seek solutions to the conflict,”
The Pope is claimed to have asked Putin to do what he can to facilitate aid to those that need it and to make continued efforts to conduct one other prisoner exchange with Ukraine.
For their part, the Kremlin has said that Putin told the Pope of specific agreements surrounding a prisoner exchange, adding further that the Russian President had assured the Pope that every one possible measures are being taken to reunite children with their parents.
The discussion also touched on the work of the Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, who’s working to facilitate the exchange of prisoners.
Also mentioned was the pinnacle of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to Bruni, “Pope Leo made reference to Patriarch Kirill, thanking him for the congratulations received at the start of his pontificate, and underlined how shared Christian values could be a light that helps to hunt peace, defend life, and pursue real religious freedom.”
Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis was also known to take a keen interest in world affairs and the suffering brought on by conflict to abnormal people.
In his last days Pope Francis was in frequent contact with the Holy Family Church in Gaza. Even during his month-long stay in hospital earlier this yr, the late Pope is claimed to have called the parishioners there on daily basis.
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