The pope urges \u2018continued dialogue\u2019 after receiving Zelenskyy in Castel Gandolfo Pope Leo XIV received the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in audience today at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy See announced in a statement. The meeting, described as “cordial,” focused on the situation of the war in Ukraine and the prospects for the diplomatic initiatives currently underway. During the conversation, the Holy Father reiterated \u201cthe need to continue the dialogue\u201d and renewed his \u201cpressing desire\u201d that diplomatic efforts might lead to \u201ca just and lasting peace,\u201d according to the statement released by the Vatican. The meeting also addressed particularly sensitive humanitarian issues. During the discussions, reference was made to the \u201cprisoners of war\u201d situation and the urgency of \u201cguaranteeing the return\u201d of Ukrainian children separated from their families and illegally deported to Russia was emphasized. Following the private audience, Zelenskyy expressed his \u201cprofound gratitude\u201d to Pope Leo XIV for the Holy See’s constant support for the Ukrainian people. In a message posted on his social media after the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed particular gratitude for the humanitarian aid. During the audience, he said he thanked the pope for “his constant prayers for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, as well as his calls for a just peace.” The Ukrainian president also informed the pope about the diplomatic contacts and negotiations that Kyiv is conducting with the United States to pave the way for peace. “I informed the pope about the diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace,” he said. One of the central points of the conversation was the fate of the Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russian territory. Zelenskyy emphasized that they discussed \u201cfuture actions and the Vatican’s mediation aimed at securing the return of our children kidnapped by Russia,\u201d an issue that the Holy See has kept on its humanitarian agenda since the first months of the conflict. The Ukrainian president emphasized that the meeting was \u201can important and cordial dialogue,\u201d focused on the protection of the civilian population and the spiritual support that the pontiff has repeatedly shown. Zelenskyy took the opportunity to renew a formal invitation to the pope to travel to Ukraine. \u201cI invited the pope to visit Ukraine. It would be a powerful sign of support for our people,\u201d he said. The audience took place a day after Zelenskyy traveled to the United Kingdom, where he held a meeting at Downing Street with the country’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, which was also attended by the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz. That meeting focused on negotiations surrounding the peace plan and next steps for Ukraine presented by Washington. The first 28-point draft presented by the Trump administration in November proposed a resolution to the conflict that was largely favorable to Moscow. That proposal was followed by another put together in Geneva by delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Europe. Zelenskyy arrived in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, Dec. 9, after three days of talks in Miami between Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov. Exactly one week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Witkoff in Moscow without any significant progress. This is the third official meeting between the two, after Leo XIV received Zelenskyy in an audience following the Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate on May 18, and in a second meeting on July 9, also in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo usually takes Tuesday every week as a day off at Castel Gandolfo. Following today\u2019s meeting with the pope, Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as part of a new round of contacts with key European leaders regarding the peace process in Ukraine. Ukraine first requested the Vatican’s intervention shortly after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, the Holy See has continued its diplomatic efforts for peace, while maintaining open channels of dialogue with all parties involved. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA\u2019s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Victoria Cardiel Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. 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