Zelensky Welcomes New Pope

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election and said he hoped the Vatican would continue its moral and spiritual support.

“At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace,” Zelensky said in a post on X.

American-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was selected by a Papal Conclave to be the new Pope Leo XIV.  Prevost was born in Chicago and is the first American to hold the Throne of St. Peter.  He is a dual national of the United States and Peru, where he held the role of Archbishop.  

The new Pope pledged to continue the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died in April.

The former pope left a divided legacy in Ukraine, at times expressing support for Ukraine and at times making conciliatory remarks towards Russian narratives of the war. However, Pope Francis consistently called for peace and a full prisoner swap between Kyiv and Moscow.

Zelensky attended the Pontifex’s funeral on April 26, where he was photographed meeting with US President Donald Trump, and said that he’d connected with the American president in a way he had not before.  

Ukraine is home to a sizeable Greek Catholic population that has grown from 8 to 12% of the population from 2014 to 2024, according to a recent poll conducted by the Razumkov Center.

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