In a message addressed to the President of Ukraine, Pope Leo XIV congratulated the Ukrainian people on their national holiday. He expressed his heartfelt prayers for the wounded, those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been left homeless.
This was reported by Vatican News.
“With a heart wounded by the violence that ravages your land, I address you on this day of your national feast,” writes Pope Leo XIV in a message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day.
The pontiff offers his prayers for “the people of Ukraine who suffer from the war, especially for all those wounded in body, for those bereaved by the death of a loved one, and for those deprived of their homes.”
"May God Himself console them; may He strengthen the injured and grant eternal rest to the departed,” Leo XIV prays. He emphasizes his hope that the Lord will “move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamour of arms may fall silent and give way to dialogue, opening the path to peace for the good of all.” The Pope concludes by entrusting Ukraine to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace.
In response, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude on his official social media pages: “I am sincerely grateful to His Holiness for his thoughtful words, prayers, and attention to the people of Ukraine amid this devastating war. All our hopes and efforts are directed toward our nation achieving the long-awaited peace. May goodness, truth, and justice prevail. We appreciate the moral leadership and apostolic support of Pope Leo XIV.”