VATICAN CIY (LifeSiteNews) – Pope Francis has telephoned Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a second time, as Zelenskyy called for the Vatican to intervene in the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy announced the call via a tweet from his official social media account Tuesday, saying that he had discussed the “difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops” with Pope Francis.
Talked to @Pontifex. Told His Holiness about the difficult humanitarian situation and the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops. The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated. Thanked for the prayers for Ukraine and peace. pic.twitter.com/wj4hmrTRGd
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 22, 2022
The president also called for the intervention of the Vatican in resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. “The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated. Thanked for the prayers for Ukraine and peace,” he said.
Further details about the call are as yet unknown, nor is it not known who requested and instigated the call. LifeSiteNews contacted the Holy See Press Office for further information, but has received none at time of publishing.
Ukraine’s in pectore Ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, also shared news of the phone call, describing it as “very promising.”
New visible gesture of support of🇺🇦by Pope Francisco: just several min. ago HolyFather called to🇺🇦Pres. Volod. Zelensky and had very promising talking. Pope said:🇻🇦is praying & doing everything possible for end of war; 🇺🇦repeated that His Holiness is the most expected guest in🇺🇦. pic.twitter.com/4FD8otC8oz
— Andrii Yurash (@AndriiYurash) March 22, 2022
Pope Francis is the “most awaited guest in Ukraine,” wrote Yurash, as the Pope has already been invited to visit the capital city of Kyiv by the city’s mayor.
Zelenskyy followed his call to the Vatican with another to the Italian Parliament, where he told the legislators that Pope Francis had told him: “I understand that you want peace. I understand that you have to defend yourselves, that soldiers defend civilians, they defend their homeland. Everyone is defending it.”
The pro-abortion president replied to Pope Francis that “our people have become the army, when they saw how much evil the enemy brings, how much devastation it brings, and how much bloodshed it (Russia) wants to see.”
Zalenskyy also referenced “the difficult humanitarian situation” in the country, calling that death of a reported 117 children a “the price of procrastination.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, already announced March 13 that the Vatican was willing to intervene as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine in facilitating peace talks. Parolin downplayed the importance of the Vatican’s role, insisting instead that the “important thing is that a way is found to put an end to all that is happening.”
“There is always the possibility of finding a solution, a solution that is honourable for everyone,” he re-iterated March 22.
The phone call is the second which the Pope has held with Zelenskyy. Pope Francis first called the president on February 26, telling Zelenskyy of “his deepest sorrow for the tragic events that are taking place in your country.”
Following an appeal by the Ukrainian Catholic bishops, Pope Francis announced he will consecrate Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, around 6:30 pm Rome time. The Vatican later revealed that the Pope has invited all the bishops of the world to join in the consecration.
However, concerns have arisen as to whether the consecration will fulfill the request of Our Lady of Fatima, after Pope Francis said in his Sunday Angelus that instead of a specific consecration of Russia, it would be principally a consecration of “humanity.”
Following the prayer of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square March 20, Pope Francis said to the crowd: “I invite every community and all the faithful to unite with me on Friday March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, to the Solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that she, the Queen of Peace, may help us obtain peace.”
It now remains to be seen what the text of the consecration will state.