Pope Leo XIV spoke over the telephone with the presidents of Israel and Ukraine on Good Friday, urging diplomatic solutions and humanitarian support amid the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Europe.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed that the pope spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on April 3, with both conversations centering on the need for renewed efforts toward peace and the protection of civilians caught in active fighting.
In the Vatican statement regarding the call with Herzog, the Holy See said Pope Leo emphasized the need to reopen diplomatic channels "in order to put an end to the serious ongoing conflict, with a view to achieving a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East.” The two leaders also discussed the importance of protecting civilians and upholding international and humanitarian law.
Herzog, writing on social media after the call, said the conversation covered Iran's missile threats, the situation in Lebanon, and the safety of Christian communities on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border. He said he also underscored to the pope the importance of the relationship between Israel and the Holy See and called for cooperation among world and religious leaders in fighting antisemitism.
In Pope Leo’s call with Zelenskyy, the Vatican said the pope reaffirmed his closeness to the Ukrainian people and stressed the urgency of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those suffering from the conflict. The pope also spoke of efforts to secure the release of prisoners and expressed hope that the international community would work toward a cessation of hostilities and a lasting peace.
Zelenskyy, posting on X after the call, said that Russian forces launched a wave of drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian cities even as the two leaders were speaking. He said at least five regions had been hit in an ongoing assault that began the previous night, calling it an "Easter escalation" and a direct rebuff to Ukraine's proposal for an Easter ceasefire.
"Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia's response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire," Zelenskyy wrote.
The Ukrainian president said he and the pope also discussed the negotiation process, Ukraine's work with the American team, and the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region. He expressed gratitude for the Vatican's help in securing the return of abducted Ukrainian children and for humanitarian assistance provided during the winter. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine would welcome a papal visit and thanked Pope Leo for keeping Ukraine in his prayers.
The calls took place on the morning of Good Friday as Pope Leo prepared to preside over the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica that evening, followed by the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum beginning at 9:15 p.m. local time.
Pope Leo, 70, plans to carry the cross himself through all 14 stations of the Via Crucis at the Colosseum in his first Holy Week as head of the Catholic Church, telling reporters that it is a sign of how “Christ still suffers, and I carry all these sufferings too in my prayers.”
