Pope Leo XIV and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Wednesday, with both sides reporting a focus on the war in Ukraine and the possibility of a peaceful resolution.
It was the first conversation between the two since Pope Leo was elected head of the Catholic Church last month.
According to a Kremlin readout, President Putin “reaffirmed his interest in bringing about peace by political and diplomatic means”, describing the call as “constructive”. He said a lasting settlement required addressing what he called the conflict’s “deep-seated causes," language often used by Moscow to justify demands for Ukrainian neutrality, NATO non-membership, and territorial concessions.
The Kremlin also accused Kyiv of escalating the war. “The regime in Kyiv is betting on an escalation of the conflict and carrying out acts of sabotage against civil infrastructure on Russian territory,” it said.
Ukraine has rejected Russian terms as unacceptable, continuing to demand a full and unconditional ceasefire which is something Moscow has so far refused.
Following his election, Pope Leo offered to mediate in conflicts involving world leaders, an idea which was welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who suggested the Vatican could host peace talks.
However, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov downplayed the prospect, saying it would be “a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to discuss [the conflict] on Catholic ground”.
In its statement, the Vatican said the Pope made “an appeal for Russia to make a gesture that favours peace”. He also “underlined the importance of dialogue for the realisation of positive contacts between the parties and to seek solutions to the conflict”.
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine, access to aid, and the ongoing efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges were also discussed.
The Pope expressed gratitude to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, a vocal supporter of President Putin, for sending good wishes at the beginning of his papacy. According to the Vatican, he emphasised "how common Christian values can be a light that helps to seek peace, defend life and seek true religious freedom”.
The Holy See has previously clashed with Patriarch Kirill over his support for the invasion, which he once described as a “holy war”.
The call comes as Russia and Ukraine continue direct negotiations aimed at ending the war. At a second round of talks held on Monday, both sides exchanged ceasefire proposals and agreed in principle to a large-scale prisoner swap, which could take place over the weekend.
The war, now in its third year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.