International News: Pope Leo XIV meets U.S. leaders ahead of Ukraine ceasefire push

Published by BBNTEAM at May 19, 2025

Posted: Monday, May 19, 2025. 4:13 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma: Today, Pope Leo XIV met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the U.S. ramps up diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

The meeting came a day after Leo’s inauguration Mass, which drew 200,000 attendees, including global dignitaries and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The 69-year-old Chicago-born pontiff, the first American pope, has made peace a central theme of his early papacy.

According to AFP, Vance delivered an invitation from President Donald Trump for the pope to visit the White House. Trump is also expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later today to push for a ceasefire.

The Vatican said Vance also held “cordial talks” with its foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, focusing on peace, humanitarian law, and religious freedom. Discussions also covered conflicts in Gaza and the future of Church-State cooperation.

Pope Leo has offered to mediate in the Ukraine conflict and proposed hosting direct peace talks at the Vatican.

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