President of Ukraine Zelensky spoke with the Pope during a visit to the Vatican.

On October 11, 2024, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky visited the Vatican, where he met with Pope Francis. During the meeting, Zelensky presented the Pope with an oil painting depicting Russian crimes in Bucha, in response to the gift of a bas-relief of a flower with an inscription about a fragile peace. The meeting lasted about 35 minutes in the library hall, after which the Pope presented Zelensky with a bas-relief with a similar image of a flower.

Zelensky, in turn, presented his gift – the painting “Buchan crime. The Story of Marichka,” about the death of her family at the hands of Russian soldiers in Bucha. Religious topics were also raised during the negotiations, where paths to peace and stability in Ukraine were discussed.

The Pope previously called for prayers for peace in Ukraine, as well as other countries at war such as Palestine, Israel and Myanmar. The pope also suggested that Ukrainian officials use a “white flag” to negotiate an end to the war, drawing criticism from Zelensky, who dismisses the option as “virtual mediation.”