Pope Leo XIV

The new pontificate

Pope, the diplomacy of Leo XIV: dialogue but without discounts

The priority dossiers for the pontiff are Ukraine, Gaza and Myanmar

by Carlo Marroni

18 May 2025

Papa Leone XIV, l'omelia del Pontefice: "Chiesa apra le braccia al mondo"

4' min read

Key points

Meeting with President Zelensky, the first bilateral
Ukraine, 'just and lasting peace' needed. Moscow forfeits
The Gaza Appeal, Herzog invites him to Israel
Diplomatic meetings on the agenda, possibly even with JD Vance

4' min read

He meets the president of Ukraine, shakes hands with the head of state of Israel, will probably see the US vice-president. Leo XIV, on the day of the official inauguration of the pontificate, launches the fronts of the Vatican foreign policy with a clear figure: dialogue with all and maximum openness to the possibility of acting as a 'bridge', even going so far as to offer the apostolic see as a neutral seat of negotiation.

But without making concessions to anyone: the Ukraine has been attacked (and in fact Russia's minister is not present at the ceremony), with the Jews dialogue is being resumed but in Gaza - he makes it clear - the humanitarian situation is tragic, in Myanmar - civil war forgotten, only the first two are mentioned - too many innocent people are dying. The American Pope has lined up the priorities, and makes it clear that on other fronts, too, papal diplomacy will take a clear stance.

The meeting with President Zelensky, the first bilateral

The meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky is the most obvious event: "Another historic moment: Pope Leo XIV's first official audience with Heads of State, which took place immediately after the inaugural Mass, was with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Several topics were discussed, including a "warm official invitation to the Holy Father to visit Ukraine", said the Ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, who was present at the meeting in the Vatican. Zelensky had already invited Leo to Kiev in a telephone call on 12 May, the first ever to a political leader.

Ukraine, 'just and lasting peace' needed. Moscow forfeits

In his words before the Regina Caeli, Prevost had said: 'The tormented Ukraine is finally waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace'. This is the second time he has used this concept: he does not speak of a ceasefire, as Francis called for (he had also spoken of a 'white flag' on the part of Kiev), but of an end to the conflict that is acceptable to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky, at the Vatican for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, expressed gratitude "for the special words spoken today during the solemn Mass on the need for a just peace and for the attention paid to Ukraine and our people. Every nation deserves to live in peace and security'.

The Russian Minister of Culture, Olga Liubimova, as mentioned, was unable to attend the ceremony due to 'technical reasons related to the inconsistency of the air route': she was to lead the Russian delegation as she had done for the funeral of Pope Francis, and was replaced by the Russian Ambassador to the Holy See, Ivan Soltanovsky. Another fact can be pointed out: for the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow, there was a non-ranking member present.

The Gaza Appeal, Herzog invites him to Israel

Mentioning the wars Prevost said: 'In the joy of faith and communion we cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of the wars. In Gaza, children, families, elderly survivors are reduced to starvation. In Myanmar new hostilities have claimed innocent young lives'. He had already mentioned the Holy Land but included the subject of the hostage tragedy, which he did not do yesterday. However, the presence at the ceremony of Israel's President Isaac Herzog testifies to a certainly more relaxed atmosphere: at the end of the mass, the Pope greeted the Israeli president who wore a label on his jacket bearing the number "590", the number of days that have passed since the beginning of the conflict with Hamas. "Today I have the privilege of representing Israel at the historic installation of Pope Leo XIV. I am grateful that one of the Pope's first acts was to call for the immediate return of all" the hostages from Gaza. "I hope that his papacy will usher in a new era of cooperation between the faiths and further strengthen the friendship between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land," Herzog writes in X. "I look forward to working together to deepen the historic ties between Israel and the Holy See and hope to soon welcome His Holiness to the Holy Land as a powerful symbol of this important bond."

Diplomatic meetings on the agenda, perhaps even with JD Vance

Diplomatic sources report that on Monday 19 May, Leo XIV may receive US Vice President JD Vance in the Vatican: on Saturday 17 May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, who had been sent by Francis to mediate the children abducted by the Russians.

Indeed, Prevost is scheduled to hold a series of hearings with representatives of the delegations that attended the inauguration ceremony, including the presidents of Colombia and Peru. It is not excluded, therefore, that Vance could be among them. Initially, a three-way summit with Zelensky had been thought, but this has not been confirmed. Meanwhile, US Vice-President JD Vance was, with his wife Usha, in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis.