European and United States leaders talked on Monday and greeted US President Donald Trump’s statement that Pope Leo 14 would be interested in hosting talks between Russia and Ukraine in the Vatican, the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, although the Vatican did not confirm such an offer from the Pope.
The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump said in social networking publications that “the Pope’s Vatican represented that he would be very interested in hosting negotiations.”
Meloni’s office said European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, talked to Trump after his call with Russian colleague Vladimir Putin.
“The work is underway to immediately start negotiations between the parties that can lead to a ceasefire as soon as possible and build the conditions for just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” the Italian government statement said.
“In this sense, the will of the Holy Father to host the conversations in the Vatican was considered positive. Italy is ready to do its part to facilitate contacts and work for peace,” the statement added.
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Elected two weeks ago, Pope Lion is the first American leader of the World Catholic Church. In a speech on May 14, the pontiff stated that the Vatican could act as a mediator in global conflicts, not specifically mentioned Ukraine and Russia.
“The Holy See is always ready to help gather enemies, face to face, to talk to each other, so that people everywhere may once again find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,” he said.
