Vladimir Putin and Pope Leo XIV exchanged thoughts during a telephone conversation, which became the first since the inauguration of the new head of the Vatican
According to official information provided by the Kremlin press service, the dialogue took place on June 4 and mainly focused on urgent issues of international security and humanitarian problems, including the situation in Ukraine. This was an important event that could influence further diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Reports from Russian sources indicate that this communication was the first in the history of the Catholic Church with the Russian leadership following Pope Leo XIV’s election to the Holy See. The Kremlin assures that Vladimir Putin, during the conversation, expressed gratitude to the Vatican for its willingness to assist in finding ways out of the crisis in Ukraine, particularly for participating in humanitarian initiatives on a neutral, non-political basis. The Russian leader emphasized that the primary goal is to find a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict, stressing that true and final peace can only be achieved by addressing the root causes of the crisis. He also confirmed that Moscow is interested in achieving long-term peace and stability, and informed the Holy Father about possible agreements reached during the second round of negotiations regarding the exchange of prisoners of war as well as the bodies of the deceased. The Kremlin leader stated that Russia is actively taking measures to restore and return children to their families, highlighting the importance of humanitarian aspects in the context of the war. At the same time, he commented on the situation on Ukrainian territory, noting that, according to him, Kyiv allegedly conducts sabotage acts targeting civilian infrastructure facilities on the Russian side. These words came in the context of accusations of destabilizing actions, which are currently a subject of active discussions in international circles. Overall, this telephone contact may mark the beginning of a new chapter in the diplomatic relations between Russia and the Vatican and serve as a signal of the possible rising role of spiritual leaders in seeking ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and ensure regional humanitarian security.