• Pope Leo XIV offers the Vatican as a venue for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
• Zelenskyy expresses gratitude for the pope's call for peace during inaugural Mass.
• The meeting highlights shared hopes for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine.
• The inaugural Mass gathered dignitaries, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
• Pope Leo emphasizes the need for unity and love to overcome global discord.

Pope Leo XIV held his inaugural Mass on May 18, attended by global dignitaries including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During this ceremony, the pope expressed a commitment to promote peace, declaring the Vatican as a potential venue for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. "The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another," he remarked, indicating the church's willingness to facilitate dialogue, according to nytimes and aljazeera.

After the Mass, Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo in a private audience, where he thanked the pontiff for his support and emphasized Ukraine’s readiness for dialogue "in any format for the sake of tangible results." The pope, referring to Ukraine's plight, stated, "The martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen," reiterating Pope Francis's calls for Ukrainian peace efforts, according to nytimes and channelnewsasia.

The Mass drew an audience of approximately 200,000 participants, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, highlighting international concerns over Ukraine's ongoing conflict. In his sermon, Leo stated a desire for the Church to act as "a leaven for a reconciled world," and called for peace not only in Ukraine but globally. This position resonates with Zelenskyy’s earlier comments about every nation deserving peace and security, as reported by channelnewsasia and nytimes.

In his closing remarks, Leo not only focused on Ukraine but also referenced other global tragedies, highlighting the suffering in Gaza and Myanmar, thus signaling a broader commitment to humanitarian issues. This comprehensive approach underscores the Church's diplomatic aims during this critical time, as detailed by aljazeera and channelnewsasia.