Russian officials have downplayed the Vatican’s potential role as a mediator, citing its location within NATO-member Italy, which has firmly supported Ukraine throughout the war.
In a move that may signal an attempt to ease strained relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches, Pope Leo XIV met on Saturday with Metropolitan Anthony, a senior figure in the Russian Orthodox Church, to discuss the war in Ukraine and broader global conflicts.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo received Anthony — chairman of the Department for External Church Relations — along with five other prominent Russian clerics during a morning audience.
According to a statement by the Russian Orthodox Church, “Numerous issues were raised concerning the state of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, as well as the ongoing conflicts in the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.”
Since his election to the papacy in May, Pope Leo has consistently advocated for peace, calling for an end to armed conflict around the globe. Earlier this month, he expressed to visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the Vatican’s readiness to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
However, Russian officials have downplayed the Vatican’s potential role as a mediator, citing its location within NATO-member Italy, which has firmly supported Ukraine throughout the war.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill — known for his vocal support of Russia’s invasion — sent his congratulations to Pope Leo through Metropolitan Anthony. “Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his good wishes and noted the importance of developing relations with the Russian Orthodox Church,” the Church’s statement read.
This development, first reported by Arab News, reflects ongoing efforts to re-establish dialogue between the two churches amid geopolitical tensions.
Meanwhile, Russia on Thursday accused Ukraine of carrying out deliberate attacks targetting civilians, stating that seven people have been killed and over 120 wounded, including 11 minors, by shelling and UAV strikes over the past week.
“On July 16, a woman was killed when an enemy drone struck a private home in the village of Smorodino; In the village of Novostroevka-Pervaya, a UAV attacked a combine harvester working in the field, injuring the driver; In the villages of Pritsepilovka and Novaya Tavolzhanka, three people were injured as a result of drone strikes,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday.
“Between July 17–22, drones were used against five passenger cars on the roads of the region, killing one person and injuring six civilians. On July 20, two people were injured in shelling and a UAV attack in the city of Shebekino; a woman was injured in the village of Togobiyevka. On July 22, an enemy shell completely destroyed a residential building in the village of Ilek-Penkovka, injuring a woman and two teenagers,” she added.
Zakharova noted that the Ukrainian armed forces continue to target unarmed Russian people who are engaged in their daily affairs.
“On July 22, a drone hit a private bus, leaving three civilians killed and three others injured. Three people were injured in drone strikes on civilian passenger cars in the settlements of Gladkovka and Novaya Kakhovka. Tonight, we received information about a Ukrainian drone attack on the area of Sochi. One woman was killed and at least one other was injured as a result,” the Russian diplomat said.
“These are not strikes against the armed forces, nor are they attacks on military personnel or actions against military equipment – these are targeted terrorist attacks on civilians,” Zakharova stressed.
She insisted that schoolchildren and preschoolers are also among those targetted by the Ukrainian forces and by pumping Ukraine with weapons, its Western sponsors are categorical in their demand to tighten the mobilization, which is already at an extreme level of violence.
“The listed facts confirm the relevance of a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine and eliminate threats emanating from its territory. All its goals will definitely be achieved, as the Russian leadership has repeatedly stated,” said Zakharova.
