Pope Leo told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday that the Vatican was willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy,

Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the pope is taking a two-week vacation. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday and thanked him for the Vatican’s efforts to return children taken by Russia and again suggested the Vatican could host peace talks.