During his official visit to the Holy See, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin involving Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
The Head of State noted the fruitful cooperation developed between Ukraine and the Holy See over 28 years of diplomatic relations, the date of establishment of which symbolically coincides with today's visit.
“Ukraine is willing to develop closer cooperation with the Holy See. We share common values and a common vision of the future,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President informed that he had invited His Holiness Pope Francis to Ukraine.
The Head of State stressed that Ukraine strived for peace and therefore appealed to the Holy See and personally to His Holiness Pope Francis asking for support and assistance in the peaceful settlement and ending the war in Donbas. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also appealed to the Holy See to help our state release its citizens.
He emphasized that interfaith dialogue in Ukraine could serve as an example for other countries, and noted the important role of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in the state's activities.