Pope Leo XIV welcomes a group of Ukrainian children who were successfully returned from Russia

This was reported on Telegram by Iryna Vereshchuk, the deputy head of the President's Office, according to Ukrinform.

According to her, “next to them were civilian women who had been rescued from Russian captivity. Every child and every person has a story filled with pain and loss, but also with hope and salvation.”

“We sincerely thanked His Holiness for understanding the depth of our wounds and hearing our pleas for help, as well as for his daily humanitarian efforts that enable Ukrainian families to reunite,” Vereshchuk stated.

During the meeting, Pope Leo XIV was also asked for the Holy See's continued support in returning children, freeing prisoners, and ensuring that every Ukrainian displaced by war can once again embrace their loved ones.

“At the end, we prayed together with the Holy Father. It was a deeply sincere prayer — for life, for children, and for peace. We received his blessing, which has become a significant source of hope for us,” Vereshchuk added.