Selenskyj and Trump: Fight for peace at the Pope in the Vatican!

Selenskyj and Trump: Fight for peace at the Pope in the Vatican!

On Sunday, May 17, 2025, the Vatican will be the scene of an important event, in which more than 200 politician delegations from all over the world take part in the inauguration fair of Pope Leo XIV. This ceremony is overshadowed by international tensions and conflicts, in particular the persistent effects of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It is estimated that Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and the US senator JD Vance, who met Pope Francis in April, will also be present at the fair, like [Little Zeitung] (https://www.kleinezeitung.at/service/newsticker/aussenpolitik/19696363/selenskyj-krap-zu-amt-zehrungsmesse- von-papst-leo) reported.

Selenskyj will probably have bilateral conversations with Pope Leo XIV after the fair, in which international foci is in focus. In particular, the situation in Ukraine is being discussed after direct negotiations between him and Vladimir Putin failed in Turkey this week.

political delegations and discussions in the Vatican

The delegations present will also be an Austrian group, which is led by Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). Stocker will travel to Rome on Saturday, while the Catholic Church in Austria will be represented by Archbishop Franz Lackner and Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl. At the beginning of the official inauguration at 10:00 a.m., church bells will ring for 15 minutes in Austria.

The ceremony, in the Leo XIV. The Wollene Pallium, a white woolen stola with red crosses, as well as a specially made fishing ring, marks an important moment in church and political life.

The role of the Vatican in the Ukraine crisis

In the past few months, the Vatican has tried to take on a mediator role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin urgently demand negotiations and an armistice. According to the slogan, Russia has to set its aggression so that peace talks can be possible, according to Tagetchau. However, this diplomatic approach was not followed without controversy. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and President Selenskyj criticized the Pope for his neutral statements and emphasized that Ukraine will not give up.

Meanwhile, Tagesschau The position of US President Donald Trump, who expresses doubts about Putin's seriousness for the end of the war and suggests new sanctions against Russia. Trump and Selenskyj recently came together at a funeral service for Francis in Rome, where they talked about the protection of the Ukrainian population and a possible ceasefire. Trump has demanded that Kiev may have to make concessions, including the disposal of the Crimea.

The Vatican could establish itself as a potential place for future discussions between the parties to the conflict. While the global political tensions are still high, the question of a permanent peace for Ukraine and the role of the Vatican in these efforts remains central to discourse.