A statement released by the Holy See Press Office said Friday that the meeting began at 09:45 local time, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, and lasted for 35 minutes.

Among the topics discussed was Zelenski’s request for Francis to help facilitate the repatriation of Ukrainian prisoners, as well as the continuation of the mission of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, commissioned by the Pope, to ease tensions and ‘initiate paths towards peace’.

The Vatican News daily reported that Zelensky’s visit to the Holy See, his third since February 2020, after the last one in May last year, is part of a hurried tour of Europe that also took him to London, Paris and Rome on Thursday.

Ied/abo/mem/ort