Ukraine: The Vatican Does Not Want to Be Left Out

Even though the future of the current pontificate appears to be uncertain, the Holy See's diplomatic activity has not slowed down. On March 17, 2025, the Vatican issued a statement confirming that a telephone call had taken place three days earlier between Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See and, as such, the Vatican's "number two," and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Holy See reiterated its desire to see a "just and lasting" peace emerge in Ukraine, a goal achievable only through sincere dialogue free from preconditions. "May there be no preconditions that prevent the beginning of a dialogue," Cardinal Parolin expressed, in a phrase chosen to distinguish himself from recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On March 13, Putin made a possible ceasefire conditional on the surrender of Ukrainian forces in the territories occupied by Russia, guarantees against Ukrainian remobilization, and the establishment of a monitoring mechanism. In the Vatican's view, such demands would risk blocking any attempt at negotiation and prolonging an already devastating war.

But since common ground must always be found with one's interlocutors, the March 17, 2025 communiqué requests that "everything be done" to facilitate the release of prisoners of war: a humanitarian concern echoing previous efforts by the Holy See, which, under the leadership of Pope Francis, has already played a role in several prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.

In April 2023, the Pontiff publicly confirmed the Vatican's involvement in operations, often led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Holy See's special envoy for peace in Ukraine. Moscow is ready to engage in this humanitarian approach, which will not cause it to lose any ground on the military front and allows Vatican diplomacy to play a role.

The call between the Secretary of State of the Holy See and the Ukrainian head of state falls  within the context of broader international negotiations. A Ukrainian delegation recently met with the U.S. Secretary of State in Jeddah to discuss a ceasefire. It was an attempt to mend tensions that arose during an explosive meeting between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Vatican, by positioning itself as a neutral facilitator, seeks to support these efforts without explicitly aligning itself with any particular power, a strategy consistent with its tradition of mediation. On March 18, Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke on the subject at an event held at the Moroccan Embassy to the Holy See, bringing together diplomats and religious representatives from the Arab world.

The high prelate reiterated the Vatican's hope for an imminent ceasefire, welcoming Ukraine's expressed willingness to initiate a 30-day truce process, and urged Russia to demonstrate a similar openness. "Let this process begin," he insisted, adding that sincere negotiations could lead to lasting peace.

Finally, Cardinal Parolin addressed the health of Pope Francis, who is 88 years old and was hospitalized between February 14 and March 21, 2025. Interviewed by journalists on the sidelines of the event at the Moroccan embassy, ​​the head of Vatican diplomacy specified that his colleagues "present to him the questions and problems that require resolution, and the Pope gives his instructions."

This is a way of saying that, even though the Pope has been forced to drastically reduce his activities, life goes on in Rome.